257 
CRUSTACEA 
BY 
C. Spence Bate, F.R.S. 
Introductory Remarks. 
Whenever any branch of science has arrived at such a position 
as to require a systematic nomenclature in all its respective 
details, its establishment upon a satisfactory and catholic basis 
is much to be desired. 
The student is then not only certain that he is capable of 
obtaining possession of the knowledge conveyed to him by pre- 
vious labourers, but can, with more ease to himself, com- 
municate with precision the results of his own researches and 
observations. 
The study then has passed beyond the risk of empirical or 
careless observation, and must rapidly advance in the path of 
systematic inquiry. 
The British Association has done well, during the last two 
meetings (Newcastle and Bath), to draw the attention of natu- 
ralists to the Series of Propositions for rendering the Rules 
for Zoological Nomenclature uniform and permanent,'' by ap- 
pointing a fresh committee, whose chief duty appears to be to 
correspond with foreign naturalists and others on the best means 
of insuring their general adoption." 
That which the late Mr. Strickland endeavoured to do in 
behalf of zoology would be well, if it could be carried out, in 
relation to some of the special branches of that science. 
In this Record we have to treat of the Crustacea only ; and we 
feel certain that research in this branch of natural history would 
progress more rapidly and satisfactorily if carcinologists could 
agree to a uniformity of expression which should also have a 
uniformity of interpretation in distinguishing the parts of a 
typical crustacean. 
The great amount of variation in general form, and the large 
degree of differentiation that eaeh part of the animal of this 
class is liable to undergo, render necessary much labour and 
research, in their homological identification, before so desirable 
a nomenclature can be satisfactorily completed. Still we believe 
that a great convenience in description, and a more accurate 
appreciation of the observations of naturalists, would be the 
1864. [voL. I.] s 
