96 



THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. LV 



Since one-letter differences in generic names are sufSeient in 

 many cases as shown by citations in this article and the practise 

 of nomenclators, why are they not in all ? The one-letter rule is 

 practicable, while one based on grounds of classical purism is 

 not, and as the framers of the Ichthyological Code properly 

 remark : 



If all names are regarded as different unless spelled alike, these 

 matters offer no difficulty. Any other view gives no assurance of 



Finally, discarding names of independent origin and distinct 

 application, that are not spelled identically, overthrows the law 

 of priority and like all practises of that tendency (so long as 

 the priority system is followed) is not for the lasting good of 

 scientific nomenclature. 



W. L. McAtee 



