names can only be changed, if at all, by their authors, should 
make nomenclators careful. Attention to euphony is recom- 
mended in the rules. Names should be pronounceable or usable, 
otherwise they are liable to be set aside in familiar converse if 
not in the systems. Thus we have Homalodontotherium, of 
unnecessary length; Propalaehoplophorus, which is almost unpro- 
nounceable ; Neeuryurus and Hipphaplous, still worse. And all 
this where endless opportunities for the construction of names, 
both short and euphonious, exist. 
A reform is needed in some quarters in the matter of compli- 
mentary names. The object of naming a species or genus after 
a person is to compliment that person, and in order that it shall 
do so some care in the use of the method should be observed. 
The undiscriminating use of it of course destroys it as a compli- 
ment. But it is an easy way of escaping the necessity of con- 
structing a suitable classical name on the part of persons who 
never studied Latin. One abuse of the custom we refer to spe- 
cifically, and that is the habit, seemingly very common, of naming 
species after deceased persons. Such persons do not appreciate 
the compliment. 
—THE peculiarities of an admixture of science and politics are 
exemplified in the case of Indiana. The last Legislature made the 
office of State Geologist an elective one, and this year all four 
. parties nominated candidates for the office. The result is 
not one to commend itself to the scientific mind. The Republi- 
licans nominated a good dotanist for the position; the other 
` parties put up nobodies for the office. In any event the 
office would not be filled by a trained geologist. Bad as this state 
of affairs is, it is no worse than when the officer was appointed. 
It is but a few years since a mediocre poet and lawyer, without 
an iota of geological knowledge, was rattling around in the posi- 
tion. There are some geologists in the State, but somehow the 
politicians will have none of them.— 
—Ir is a well-known fact that there is not a little pretty poor 
science teaching in America, but in many schools this is not to be 
wondered at, for the pay is correspondingly poor. A certain Ohio 
