Proposed Reform of Zoological Nomenclature. 281 
[The authority for a species, exclusive of the genus, to be followed 
by a distinctive expression | 
The systematic names of zoology being still far from that state 
of fixity which is the ultimate aim of the science, it is frequently 
necessary for correct indication to append to them the name of 
the person on whose authority they have been proposed, When 
the same person is authority both for the specific and generic 
name, the case is very simple ; but when the specific name of one 
author is annexed to the generic name of another, some difficulty 
occurs. For example, the Muscicapa crinita of Linnzus belongs 
to the modern genus Z'yrannus of Vieillot ; but Swainson was 
the first to apply the specific name of Linneus to the generic 
one of Vieillot. The question now arises, Whose authority is 
to be quoted for the name Tyrannus crinitus? The expression 
Tyrannus crinitus, Linn., would imply what is untrue, for Linneus 
did not use the term Lares and Tyrannus Site Vieill., 
is equally incorrect, for Vieillot did not adopt the name GO 
If we call it Tyrannus crinitus, Sw., it would imply that Swainson 
was the first to describe the species, and Linneus would be robbed 
of his due credit, If we term it Tyrannus, Vieill., cronitus, Linn., 
we use a form which, though expressing the facts correctly, and 
therefore not without advantage in particular cases where great 
exactness is required, is yet too lengthy and inconvenient to be 
used with ease and rapidity. Of the three persons concerned with 
the construction of a binomial title in the case before us, we con- 
ceive that the author who /irst describes and names a species 
which forms the groundwork of later generalisations, possesses a 
higher claim to have his name recorded than he who afterwards 
defines a genus which is found to embrace that species, or who 
may be the mere accidental means of bringing the generic and 
specific names into contact. By giving the authority for the 
specific name in preference to all others, the inquirer is referred 
directly to the original description, habitat, &c., of the species, 
and is at the same time reminded of the date of its discovery ; 
while genera, being less numerous than species, may be carried 
in the memory, or referred to in systematic works without the 
necessity of perpetually quoting their authorities. The most 
simple mode then for ordinary use seems to be, to append to the 
original authority for the species, when not applying to the genus 
also, some distinctive mark, such as (sp.), implying an exclusive 
reference to the specific name, as Tyrannus crinitus (Linn.) (sp.), 
and to omit this expression when the same authority attaches to 
both genus and species, as Ostrea edulis, Linn.* Therefore, 
* The expression T'yrannus crinitus (Linn.) would perhaps be preferable from 
its greater brevity. 
