350 The American Naturalist. [April, 
work will be a useful one. Take a couple of cases from Papaveracee ; 
all remember something of the discussion as to the proper generic name 
for the “ Dutchman’s Breeches,” given in our manuals as Dicentra. 
Here we find that Dicentra was proposed by Bernhardi in 1833, and 
that he was anticipated by Borckhausen who published the name 
Diclytra in 1797, but who was himself preceded by Adanson who in 
1763 first used the name Bikukulla, which in its corrected from Bicu- 
culla is, therefore, the name we should cite in this instance. 
Again we have the genus Corydalis in our manuals; but if we look 
up its history we find that this name was proposed by Ventenat in 
1803; but Scopoli’s name Neckeria precedes this by more than a quar- 
ter of a century (1777), while Adanson’s name Capnoides is earlier 
still (1763). 
We are becoming so democratic, even in science, that it is desirable 
that the reasons for changes and modifications should be laid before 
the public. Even the most obscure botanist is nowadays entitled to 
know why an old plant comes out under a new name. It may vulgar- 
ize science somewhat and take from it that element of the mysterious 
which it formerly possessed, if we lay these things before the world. 
When the world learns that the pronouncements of “ Science ” are after 
all only the judgments of, say, Professor Britton, Professor Coulter, 
Professor Scribner, or some other mortal, it may not stand in such 
ignorant, open-mouthed wonder as it formerly was wont to do. Itmay 
even cry out against them, and demand that the golden calf be set up 
again. But if these professors set forth plainly that their work is plain 
work, the plain and straightforward statement of facts, the world will 
eventually cease to be the blind idolaters of that which they do not un- 
derstand. 
This book is quite likely to be railed at by some people who are 
themselves botanists. In one respect it is a revolutionary work, or 
rather, it is the mark of a revolution, and in all revolutions there are 
some who fear the consequences. This book is the sign that the day 
of “ authority ” as such, is ended, and the day of “law” has begun. 
The day of botanical “equality before the law” has come, and the 
humblest botanist now may lawfully correct the greatest. 
What, now, is this work? It includes the names of about 4350 
species, each of which has been critically examined, and as far as pos- 
* List of Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta growing without cultivation in 
Northeastern North America. Prepared by a committee of the Botanical Club, 
American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1893--1894. Price a” 00 
(Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club, Vol. V.) 
