No. 440.] 



VERNACULAR NAMES. 



555 



ary, nor in all combined, perhaps ; neither do these authorities 

 cited always agree in compounding words, just as they do not 

 always agree in spelling and pronunciation ; but they are the 

 best reflectors of good usage we have. In fact, the chief func- 

 tion of the dictionary is to exhibit the usages of the best speakers 

 and writers. 



There is one phase of the question on which it is somewhat 

 difficult to secure uniformity. Compound words are divided 

 into two classes: (1) separable compounds, written with the 

 hyphen, as 'tent-caterpillar'; and (2) solidified compounds, 

 written without the hyphen, as < ladybird.' It is not easy to 

 formulate rules for determining just when the hyphen may be 

 omitted from a compound, and the word written solid. Gen- 

 erally the old and familiar forms are solidified, while the newer 

 and unfamiliar names retain the hyphen ; but age and frequency 

 of use alone can not determine. However, this is not so impor- 

 tant as some other phases of the subject. Words are compound 

 whether hyphened or solid, and the choice of forms depends more 

 upon taste, since no fundamental language-principle is at stake. 

 But we should strive for uniformity in this respect also. The 

 limits of this paper will not admit a fuller discussion of this 

 feature. 



There should be some concerted attempt to secure uniformity 

 in writing the vernacular names of animals. The principles and 

 rules which govern in these matters are just as binding with 



tion, or the construction of sentences. There is no more reason 



ignoring any other essential to good orthography or correct 



