52 
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 
To illustrate this hy a suppositious example let us assume that a Buccinum striatum 
was described by Linnaeus ; that Lamarck subsequently described a Buccinum striatum 
whose name was changed by Wood, on account of the existence of the Linnaean species, 
to B. rugosum. B. rugosum is found to belong to the genus Nassa. Yet it is not impera- 
tively necessary to change the name Nassa rugosa (Wood), to N. striata (Lam.), after 
it had come into use. But if there had been already a Nassa rugosa, even if of later 
date than Wood’s description, it would then be better to reinstate the name striata 
Lam., and thus coniine all the changes to one species instead of embroiling two. 
§ LXXIII. When a subspecies, variety, or other subdivision of a species, 
is referred to another species, the name of the former should be changed, 
if the latter already contains a modification of the same rank or kind 
bearing the same name. (DC.) 
§LXXIV. When a group is transferred from that which contains it to 
another, and the first preserves its original rank, its name should be 
changed if it becomes senseless, or an evident cause of error and confu- 
sion in the new situation in which it is placed. (DC.) 
§ LXXVb In the preceding cases the name to be changed or rejected, 
is to be replaced by the oldest valid name of the group, concerned ; or, if 
there be none, a new name should be created. (DC.) 
§ LXXVI. Names of groups having higher than generic rank may have 
their terminations modified to render them conformable to usage or the 
rules. (DC.) 
§ LXXVII. When a name (1) stated by the author to be derived from 
certain Greek or Latin words exhibits a glaringly faulty construction ; or 
(2) when its orthography is evidently erroneous; or (3) when a name 
taken from the name of a person has not been written according to the 
real orthography of his name; or (4) when a wrong gender has been at- 
tributed to a name by its termination, either by its not agreeing in gender 
with the genus to which it is referred, or from some internal inconsistency 
in the name itself: — Naturalists are authorized to correct the faulty name 
or the faulty termination, provided the name be not very ancient and 
universally received under the erroneous form. This authority, however, 
should be used with great reserve, particularly if the change will effect 
the first syllable, and above all the first letter of the erroneous name. 
(DC., Th., B. A.) 
1. Some naturalists would leave unchanged all errors of construction, no matter how 
glaring and correct only orthographical errors, but by far the greater number including 
the B. A. committee regard serious errors of both kinds as subject to reformation. 
Mongrels or compound mutilates are generally rejected (Th.) when they cannot be re- 
formed. Valen ciennensis Rousseau, intended for a generic name, has properly been 
changed to Valen ciennesia by Fischer. 
2. In Latinizing Greek words there are certain rules of orthography which should 
never be departed from. (B. A.) Hence such names as Aipucnemia , Zenophasia, 
Aglcistroclon, must, according to the rules of etyomlogy (see § LXXXIV), be written 
JEpycnemia , Xemphasia, Avcistrodon, and have accordingly been changed. 
3. For instance, Mangilia Risso, derived from the name of Mangili, an Italian natu' 
ralist, has been most generally written erroneously Mangelia. 
But to change certain universally known names on account of erroneous orthog- 
raphy would be very inconvenient. For instance, in the Botanical Congress at Lon- 
