441 



(3) " Types 01 Species in Botanical Taxonomy," by Walter T, Swingle, Science, N.S., 

 xxxvii, 864-7, 6th June, 1913. 



'" It is becoming more and more evident that only by the use of the method of types (Coot, 0. F., 

 1S9S, " The Method of Types," in Science (N.S.) viii, 513-6, No. 198, October 1 4 ; Cook, 0. F., 1900, " The 

 Method of Types in Botanical Nomenclature," in Science (N.S.) xii, 475-481, No. 300, September 28) can 

 any stability be secured in taxonomy. In spite of a growing realization of this fact, there has been no 

 adequate appreciation on the part of botanists of the great advantages offered by plants over animals 

 in the facilities they afford for the multiplication of type material. The paper is divided into — 



' ; Primar;/ Types. ..." The type specimen is therefore unique, and cannot exist in duplicate." 



" Reproduced Types. — This deals with photographs and casts. 



" Syntypes and Para.ii/j:cs. — If, as is usually the case, several specimens from distinct plants and often 

 from different localities are used by the author in describing his species, the type material belongs to one 

 of two categories. Either the author did not directly or indirectly designate a type, and therefore all the 

 specimens are Syntypes (" Scientific Volapuk,' by F. A. Bather, in Natural Science, iv, 57, No. 23, January, 

 1894), or a type was designated, in which case the other specimens studied by the author are Paratypes- 

 (A paratype is a specimen belonging to the original scries, but not the type, in cases where the author has 

 himself selected a type. It should, however, be one of the specimens mentioned or enumerated in the 

 original description. (Oldfield Thomas, Prcc. Zool. Soc, 1893, p. 242).) 



"' AYhat are here called Syntypes are also known as Co-types. (A co-type is one of two or more speci- 

 mens together forming the basis of a species, no type having be ~n selected. No species would have both type 

 and co-type, but either the former, or two or more of the latter (Oldfield Thomas, I.e.) ), but unfortunately 

 the latter word is also very commonly, though erroneously, used to designate paratypes. Although syntypes 

 are usually segregated sooner or later into a type (lectotype, see Charles Schuchert in Geo. Merrill, ' Cata- 

 logue of the Type and figured specimens of Fossils, Minerals, &c, in the Department of Geology, U. S. 

 National Museum,' Bull. 53, Fossil Invertebrates, p. 12), and paratypes, it is nevertheless important to 

 avoid any confusion in type material such as is likely to result from using the term Co-type. It would, 

 indeed, be better to abandon altogether the word Co-ytpe. The rules which have been formulated for 

 the typification of species, particularly those given in the American code of botanical nomenclature, suffice 

 in very many cases to determine which of the Syntypes is to be made the Lectotype. (J. C. Arthur et al. 

 ' American Code of Botanical Nomenclature,' in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, xxxiv, 172-4, April, 1907.) " 



Dr. Swingle's paper contains a valuable summary at the end, and a bibliography 

 which has only been partly quoted by me. 



Let us turn to a local paper, " What are type-specimens ; how should they be 

 named ? " by F. Chapman, A.L.S., Vict. Nat, xxix, 59 (August, 1912). 



This is an admirable paper, with useful references. The author quotes Dr. G. B. 

 Goode (Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 53, p. 8, 1905), defining a type as " A specimen which 

 has been used by the author of a systematic paper as the basis of detailed study, and 

 as the foundation of a specific name. In cases where a considerable number of specimens 

 has been used, it is desirable to separate one or more as being primary types, while the 

 other specimens, which may have been used in the same study for the purpose of com- 

 parison, may be regarded as collateral types." 



Mr. Chapman pleads for the proper care of types, for it is impossible to over- 

 estimate their value, although non-naturalists sometimes seem to think that such 

 especial care is really faddism. One of the most difficult things to do is to impress on a 



