400 : The American Naturalist. [May, 
has filed into place in our nomenclature, there to remain until time 
and language shall be no longer. To account for this phenomenon we 
we cannot point viridically to the euphony of the word, nor to the 
great economy of time and space which we secure by adopting it. 
That suggestion and automatism have much to do with this custom 
there can be no doubt, but we venture a hypothesis which may relieve 
us of the painful suspicion that this ready yielding to ones subliminal self 
may be due to poverty of classical knowledge or inventive capacity, 
or both. The originator of the term foresaw the possibilities of the 
Malagassy language for cacaphony, so to avoid such terms as antanan- 
arivoénsis, and amboulisatrensis, he set the fashion at madagascariensis, 
and so it has remained. It is true that there are a few species of ani- 
mals inhabiting the great island which are not named mad ien- 
sis, but they must always remain in comparitive obscurity. Butit might 
be well to place the name on the retired list in view of its eminent se 
vices in the past, especially as there some new aspirants to publie favor 
which will give it a competition too serious for its years. The cate. 
phony mill which produces Propalshoplophorus and Brachydiaste- 
matotherium is still in motion, and we look for new revelations which 
will utterly destroy the usefulness of madagascariensis by placing # 
among the words of one syllable in the nomenclatorial primer. 
—There is at present no law for the punishment of poachers m "= 
National Parks. As a consequence the officers in charge Can 
` escort men who are detected in this invasion of the rights of the mm 
to the boundary, and there discharge them. As a consequence poach- 
ing has become rather a pleasant pasttime than otherwise. The hai 
detection of some men who have for several years been killing sni 
in the Yellowstone National Park, will perhaps stimulate ngres 
remedy the evil. A bill is at present in the hands of the Committe 
on Territories of the House of Representatives which will i 
furnish the necessary legislation. We hope that na 
prevent its early passage by both houses. | 
—We learn that the Sundry Civil Bill as sent to the House pl 
Committee on appropriations has not reduced the appropriations Jast 
scientific work of Government bureaus below the amounts pe 
year. We should be thankful for this in view of the extremely eC" 
ic tendencies of the present congress. ae 
—The legislature of Missouri is hesitating to make an approp ario 
for the continuance of the zoological survey. It will make ® 
` economic mistake if it fails to grant the usual sum. 
