xii CONSTRUCTION OF SYSTEMATIC NAMES IN PALAEONTOLOGY. 



should be similarly constructed, with the termination inx. These words are formed by 

 changing the last syllable of the genitive case into idx or inn; as strir, Strigis, Strigidx, 

 Buceros, Bucerotis, Bucerotidx, not Strixklx, Bwstidse. — [Recommendations. 



It should be borne in mind that in the termination — idae, the i is 

 short, but in — inae it is long. 



— inus. This Latin termination is of wider application and classic 

 usage sanctions its application to both common and proper names, though 

 less commonly to the names of persons. Latin usage, however, restricted 

 its application more than modern scientific practice has done, and applied 

 it mainly to proper names, local terms and living beings; as caninus, 

 alpinus. Hence, such words as rugatinus, sulcatinus, secalinus, taxinus 

 and velutinus are at best suspicious if not illegitimate. This termination, 

 however employed, is subject to the laws given under — ensis. 



— ites. This termination was early adopted by naturalists to express 

 the fossil nature of the specimen and so prevent confusion, while at the 

 same time expressing resemblance to some existing genus or species. 

 It is a contraction of the Greek word lithos, a stone. In most instances, 

 however, it coalesces with the last vowel of the root and becomes long 

 in compensation. This and long usage in many words, such as Ammo- 

 nites, Belemnites, Pyrites, have completely established the long i, while 

 the gender is determined by that of the Greek word to be masculine. 

 All specific terms in the genus must, therefore, be of this gender. 



— oides. This Greek termination, signifying " like," should be added 

 only to the stems of words of Greek origin. No connecting vowel is 

 necessary, as one already exists in it. Thus we have dactylos, dacty- 

 loides; discos, discoides. A Latin form is often used, — oideus, which, 

 however, obeys the same laws ; except that the Greek termination is alike 

 in all genders, while the Latin is inflected as Latin adjectives of similar 

 termination. 



d. Compound terms.— In forming compound terms as generic or spe- 

 cific names, care should be taken to connect them rightly. If an adjective 

 of three terminations or a noun of the second Latin declension composes 

 the former part of the word, either i or o may be employed as a connect- 

 ing vowel, the choice being largely determined by the ear. Thus sulco- 

 marginal is better than sulci- mar ginatus, and crassicaulis than cras- 

 socaulis. If, however, the adjective has but one or two terminations, 

 or the noun be of the first, third or fourth Latin declension, the connecting 

 vowel i should always be employed as tenuistriatus, pinniformis, ilici- 

 folius, retiformis, cornifer. The connecting vowel o is admissible by 

 Greek usage in all declensions, as Ulodendron, Cycloconcha, Syringo- 

 dendron, Alethopteris, Dictyonema, Dictyopteris, except that where the 

 first part of the word is an adjective ending in—ys, it is shorter and at 

 the same time consonant with classic usage to employ no connecting 

 vowel at all; thus, pachydermia, euryteines, oxynotus, Platy stoma, etc., 

 are better than pacliyoderma, euryoteines, oxyonotus, Platyostoma, etc. 

 e. Spelling of new names. — 

 In writing zoological names, the rules of Latin orthography must be adhered to. 



