236 
ON THE CLASSIFICATION OP BIRDS. 
that it became frequently very cHfficult to invent a name 
expressive of actual peculiarities. His zoological genera 
on Oie other hand, were few, and he was thus enabled,^ 
without difficulty, to frame his generic nomenclature 
upon other, and certainly better, principles ; since there 
can he no doubt that a name derived from some actual 
property of the object it designates, is always more ex- 
pressive than any other. But whatever were the mo- 
tives that guided Linnaeus in this restriction, there seems 
no valid reason — if we admit the principle that names 
may be so framed— why botanists alone are to be so 
honoured. ^V^e by no means wish to see a general de- 
pa,rture from this rule, for the reason just stated, con- 
ceiving that all generic names should express the abso- 
lute qualities of the thing named ; yet the same object 
can be gained in a different way. Periietuity is as 
® specific as to a generic name ; and 
thus the names of those who have earned the title of 
"true ’ zoologists may be as effectually preserved in 
toe record of a species, as in the appellation of a genus. 
This, in fact, seems to be the general feeling among us 
ami so far all is well. But then comes the- question, to 
whom, besides true zoologists, is this honour to be ex- 
tended? A line of distinction must be drawn some- 
where, or the designation ceases to be an honour. Now 
We conceive that private feelings on such a point ought 
not to be indulged at the expense of violating the spirit 
and obvious meaning of the law in question. There 
can be no doubt that naturalists who have brought home 
collections from distant countries for the object of bene- 
fiting science, and have so employed them, merit being 
associated with the groat names tliat have enriched our 
science by their writings and recorded discoveries. But 
if every one who unknowingly happens to discover a 
new bird is entitled to have his name attached to it, we 
know not how widely this honour is to be distributed. 
The captain of a trading vessel may bring home a 
curious bird, which may prove to be new, and thus 
may claim to have his name immortalised. Every per- 
