No. 39.— 1889.] ZOOLOGICAL TABLES. 



27 



text books, but in these it is by the omission of details to a 

 large extent that the reduction in bulk is gained. 



With regard to the second point, characters that serve at 

 one time to characterise a family, in another family are 

 merely generic, in some genera merely specific, and in some 

 species they vary in individuals. Their range cannot be 

 learnt, therefore, from ordinary diagnostic treatises without 

 much research. 



My third aim can of course be only carried out by some 

 sort of table, and I suppose no one would deny its utility, if 

 it is only possible to accomplish it. 



The fourth point to many may seem to be of little moment, 

 but the science of Zoology depends upon the correct deter- 

 mination of specific names. As Linnaeus pointed out in his 

 preface to the " Systema Naturae": — " Methodus anima 

 scientiae, indigitat primo intuito, quodcunque corpus naturale, 

 et hoc corpus dicat proprium suum nomen et hoc nomen 

 quaecunque de nominato corpore beneficio saeculi innotuere 

 ut sic in summa confusione rerum apparenti summas cos- 

 piciatur naturae ordo,"* 



On Numerical Columns. 



Before considering what formulae to employ and what 

 signification to attach to them, it will be well to see how 

 much can be expressed by simple numbers. These can be 

 understood at once by all, however ignorant they may be 

 of the technicalities employed in describing the species of 

 the group they may be desirous of studying. 



Upper labials :— ^f- 5 - shows that there are eight upper 

 labials, the third, fourth, and fifth of which enter the eye. 



P | shows that there is one prae-ocular and two post- 

 oculars. 



* Method, the soul of nature, points out at first sight any natural body- 

 whatsoever, so that the body may be called by its own proper name, and 

 this name tells us whatsoever things have become known concerning the 

 body named, for the benefit of future generations, so that amidst the 

 utmost apparent confusion the perfect order of nature may appear. 



