i(>z J\l. H. Wincnell on the laconic. 
Such was the seed and such the field in which it was sown. 
The copy of the "Principles" that went on board the Beagle 
bore perhaps more and richer fruit than all the rest of the edition. 
We shall see its effects and the reaction of his greater pupil on 
the great master. ,^ 
(7'() be continued?) V ' 
SOME OBJECTIONS TO THE TERM TACONIC 
CONSIDERED. 
BY N, ]l. WINCHELL. 
There is a just rule of nomenclature requiring only to be 
mentioned to be approved, which is applicable in considering 
the term Taconic. It is recognized by paleontologists, by 
unanimous practice, its justice being so apparent that there has 
never been any need to formulate it in words; viz. an author's 
own definition and description of his new species must be ac- 
cepted, instead of that of other investigators, and, especially, in- 
stead of that of those who have described species nearly allied^ 
or that might come into competition with it in any way. A 
corollary to this, equally self-evident, is the right that the author 
has to add to or modify his original description in any manner, 
even to abolish his species or to erect two or more from the 
original, unless prior to his changing it another investigator had 
discovered and published the necessary corrections, and had 
erected specific names of his own. One other well-known law 
of nomenclature, lately re-affirmed by the International Con- 
gress of Geologists, is that known as ///c /axe <?/ ^r/cr//}'; but 
priority that goes into pre-Linniean literatiu'e (the I2th edition 
of Linnaeus, 1766) is considered as having no claims, as priority, 
and if a species from before that date be recognized it must be for 
other reasons. These rules of paleontologists are based on the 
broader right of the oivnership of the discoverer^ a right which 
is recognized in all science and in all lav/ whether domestic or 
international, so broad and so fundamental that to generally ig- 
nore it would bring civilized countries again into barbarism, 
where the possession of property is dependent on the possession 
of brawn sufficient to defend it. It is to these rules, therefore. 
