for Systematic Biology. 
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in the nature of the case, necessarily mere conjecture, I gradually 
realised exactly what it was possible to do with the specimens so 
that the work which had been expended on them could be recorded, 
and, at the same time, a start made towards a natural classification. 
I found it, however, almost useless to suggest this practical 
solution to my fellow workers. One here and there, who has 
found exactly the same kind of difficulty as I have with the 
Corals, expressed approval, but the great mass of modern systema- 
tists say they do not want it. For their worst difficulties, they 
say, a little patching of the old system will amply suffice and 
so on. I perceived further that this attitude is not solely due to 
the fact that, with regard to the more stable forms of life, it is 
still possible, by means of the old formula of naming, to do accu- 
rate scientific work, preparatory towards a natural classification, 
but also largely to the fact that the prevailing ideas as to the 
aims of classification are not sufficiently defined. Discussions 
have been all about nomenclature and not about classification, 
that is, not about the principles that should inspire nomen- 
clature. 
It became quite clear, then, that before any better method of 
naming is demanded, a need for it must be established. The 
actual formulae of classification are purely secondary; they are 
only the symbols which we agree to use to express an order of 
ideas. Before any reform in our methods of designating specimens 
can be accepted, it is essential that the ideal aims of classification 
should be very clearly understood. When that is once achieved, 
it will be psychologically impossible to revert to any system which 
totally fails to express them. T propose, then, after describing 
the aims of classification as the theory of Evolution has silently 
advanced them, to show that the present method of classifi- 
cation, which has survived from pre-Darwinian days, fails to 
express these aims, and fails even in those cases in which, owing 
to the stability of the group, the work done is as exact as it could 
be, while, in cases where the forms are very inconstant, the old 
formula, as we are at present forced to use it, positively hinders the 
attainment of any good object whatever. That being established, 
I shall sketch the line of reform of method which the exigencies 
of my own work suggested to me, and which, the longer I work 
with it becomes more practical and promising. I am aware that 
to attempt to alter our time-honoured methods of classification 
may be a daring thing to do, but the strength of my position lies 
in this, that I am simply appealing to the first principles of 
scientific work, and maintaining that, in classification as in all 
other departments, we must have a system of work which allows 
us to begin by collating the facts and nothing but the facts; 
and further that the time has come when what all evolutionists 
