Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/457

Rh The third kind of specific names is said to be: "c. Substantives in the genitive, such as those given in dedication to persons or groups of persons." To this is appended the remark, "The genitive is formed by adding an i to the exact name of the person, if a man; an æ in case the person is a woman." Without further explanation, therefore, we might have two such species as Felis Johnsoni and Felis Johnsonæ. But this can scarcely be intended.

The third rule of this section, according to three members of the Commission, should read thus: "While it is desirable to avoid the repetition of the generic name as a specific name (Perdix perdix, Trutta trutta), such repetition is not sufficient grounds for rejecting or changing either the generic or the specific name. The same principle applies to the repetition of the specific name as subspecific or varietal name." The minority say, "Specific names, when used as generic, must be changed."

The following form is offered as an alternative: In future, specific names within a genus may not be used for naming its subdivisions; as regards the past, the name of the species which has supplied a generic name shall be that which was given to it by the author who placed it in the new genus to which its specific name was applied. For example, if Tetrao perdix, Linn., at the institution of the genus Perdix had been called Perdix perdix, that would be the name to be retained; but as it was in fact called Perdix cinerea, the very name used by Aldrovandi and other pre-Linnean authors, that name will happily prevail. This rule, if accepted, will keep us from tinkering at the work of our predecessors by ex post facto regulations.

In section IV., rule 3 finds the Commission once more divided, on the question of defining who is the author of a species. For the paragraph in dispute, the following form is suggested: — The author of a species shall be that person who—a. First publishes the description of the species, with names in conformity with Rule 1. Should the description and names be at first publication incorporated in the work of another writer, such writer will himself be deemed author of the species unless he attests that he is quoting the description as well as the names from another authority. Paragraphs b, c, d would follow as in the proposal of the majority.