48 J. H. MAIDEN. 



that new descriptions of phanerogams should be in Latin. 

 It had been proposed to accept descriptions in English, 

 French, German and Italian, but it was stated that if that 

 be pressed, a claim would be made for the inclusion of such 

 languages as Russian and Japanese, both countries con- 

 taining many good botanists. 



The resolution was passed, and in my view, it should be 

 binding on all botanists, otherwise we shall have a most 

 undesirable state of things. The proper course for objectors 

 is to seek to rescind the resolution in a constitutional 

 manner. New Zealand botanists are loyal to the Latin 

 language, and personally I have always obeyed the decision, 

 much as I, for personal reasons, regret it. A good Latin 

 scholar also a botanist, would look upon the matter as of 

 small moment, but, in my case, translations of descriptions 

 into Latin take up time which I would like to devote to 

 other purposes, besides which, I am not proud of my Latin 

 descriptions when I have done them. I at one time thought 

 I might get out of the difficulty by paying a Latin scholar a 

 fee, but I find that many botanical Latin words belong to 

 the genus canis, and there seems to be at present no escape 

 for the botanist. 



5. Alterations in botanical descriptions. — I emphasise 

 the danger of altering botanical descriptions of genera or 

 species, except it is distinctly so stated. Such a man as 

 Bentham could perform such a feat with a minimum of 

 danger, but, as a very general rule it should not be 

 attempted. 



We want the ipsissima verba of authors, in order that 

 we may form our own opinions, and alterations should not 

 be made except for special reasons, and then they should 

 be indicated in some way, — in italics or by brackets. 



