NOMENCLATURE. 
15 
Generic names, which are essentially substantives, are taken pre- 
ferably from the Greek language, though they may also be taken from 
the Latin or other tongue, but if the word be not Latin, it should be 
treated as such and Latinized in the regular and orthodox way, and 
should in wi’iting or printing always commence with a capital letter. 
A generic name should consist of a single word, which may be either 
simple or compound. In the compound or composite words the 
attribute should always precede the chief term, as in Cyclostoma. 
If the generic term is used in the adjective form, which is not 
desirable, it should always take the feminine termination. 
Generic names may be 
Greek substantives, for which the rules of Latin transcription 
must be followed, as in Ancylus, Physa, etc. These rules 
require that at be rendered as ce ; a as i ; ov as u ; oi as 03; 
V as y; 0 as th; 4> &sph; x as ck; k as c; yx as 7ich ; yy as ng ; 
‘ as h ; os and ov if terminal are rendered as us and um 
respectively. 
Compound Greek words, the attribute being always placed 
first, as in Stenogyirc, Cyclostoma, etc. 
Latin substantives, as Auricula, etc. 
Compound Latin words, as Semifusus, etc. 
Derivatives from Greek or Latin words, expressing diminution, 
comparison, re.semblance, etc., as HeUcella, Ilelicina, etc. 
Mythological and Ancient words or names, as Venus, Cleopatra, 
etc., the words or names taking the Latin termination if 
not already possessing it. 
Modern names ; these preserve their orthography and retain 
any accents with which they may be surcharged, and if 
terminated by a consonant add ius, ia, ium to the full and 
complete name of the person to whom the dedication is 
made, as Dreissensia, Mulleria, etc. Names ending in 
e, i, o, y take the termination us, a, um, as Wiyvillea, etc., 
but if terminated by a or u add ia, but, in the latter case, 
the letter t is interpolated for the sake of euphony, as 
Payraudeautia, etc. 
Names of Vessels ; according to their character these are 
treated as mythological names, as Vega; or as modern 
names, as Challengeria, etc. 
