^C ook* s paper. My own conclusions concerning this paper are summarized by 
synonymies which it is interesting to record without undue delay. It 
is not my intention to consider^Cook 1 s historical notes,and even less to 
deny that they are interesting. 
Nomenclature! changes are of common occurrence in taxonomic 
practice and it is not unconceivable that a hasty reader of Cook f s article 
publisha__ 
a 
may come to the conclusion that there is some justification 
Siphonia Ridleyana Cook,1941,to replace Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.,1865. 
This is absolutely not the case. Cook rejects Hevea brasiliensis merely 
because he does not like this name,which is forbidden by the 
* *i 
Rules of International Nomenclature { Art. 16, Art. 5^, Art. 60(1) ). 
Cook fat tacks the Rules thems-elves, disputing their soundness 
in principle as v/ell as in detail. ~ % n 
The Rules of Botanical Nomenclature are the product of 
a theory and practice of botany that has survive^ close to two centuries of 
international usage, £o suppose that the Articles and 
the Recommendations in these Rules are either fully bad or fully good is 
* 
a manifest fallacy. It is but plain common sense to believe that they are, 
fairly good,because thousands of men of different minds at work upon the 
same problems can not always and completely err in their conclusions. 
It is common sense,likewise,to believe that they can be made better,be¬ 
cause science moves on,and a critical study of the issues that bob up in 
its wake W^never be dismi ssed a s /superf luQus,foQringj\or deplorable* 
the 
Rules freely admit ( Art. 74 ) that the Articles and the Recommendations 
can be altered,rejected or modified. This admission is hedged in by the 
clause that changes can be introduced into the Rules only at 
the proper time and in the prescribed manner. Since little has been done 
so far to regulate the work of the bodies which are charged with the actual 
writing up of the Rules it is not to be denied that men&d6A 
a legiti iate ground/of complainjyfagainst wmmmm certain Articles vmm 
and the manner in which proposals ms# hapoen to be in and 
out the Rules* 
