ALTEBAIIOSS IN NOJIENCLATCnE. 
2-15 
struction of our language is not well atlajited for this 
purpose. To attempt expunging a well known \ulgar 
name, because it does not happen to express a scientific 
group, appears equally repugnant to common sense and 
sound judgment. 
t'’ (205.) The observations of a late eminent naturalist 
on these proposed changes seem to us to be marked 
with so much sound sense, that we think they deserve 
the attention of us all. “ It is generally agreed among 
mankind that names of countries, places, or things, sanc- 
tioned by general use, should be sacred ; and the study 
of natural history is, from the multitude of objects with 
which it is conversant, necessarily so encumbered with 
names, that students require every possible assistance, 
to facilitate the attainment of those names, and they have 
a just right to complain of every needless impediment. 
The few great leaders, indeed, in natural knowledge must 
and will be allowed to ward off and to correct, from time 
to time, all that may tend to deform and enfeeble the pre- 
vailing system. They must choose between names of the 
same dgte, and even between good and bad ones of any 
date. A botanist (or .zoologist) who, by the strength of 
his own superior knowledge and authority, reforms and 
elucidates a whole tribe, ought to be unshackled in every 
point in which he can be of service. His wisdom will 
be evinced by extreme caution and reserve in using his 
liberty with respect to new names ; and, after all, he will 
be amenable to the general tribunal of botanists, and the 
judgment of those who come after him. Few, indeed, 
are illuetrioun enough to ulahn such privilege-i ae these- 
Those who alter names, often for the worse, according 
to arbitary rules of their own, or in order to aim at 
consequence which they cannot otherwise attain, are 
but treated -with silent neglect. The system should |iot 
be encumbered with such names, even as synonyms. * 
(206.) The nKPiNiTioN or character of a genus or 
subgenera should be strictly confined to such as are 
altogether peculiar. It is the prevalent error of ornitho- 
* Smith’s Introduction to Botany, second edition, p. 383. ^ 
R 3 
