NATURE [FEBRUARY 7, 190L

NATURE [FEBRUARY 7, 190l

The Mongoose in Jamaica. found in Markhor, the anterior ridge in the tame animals turning IN Jordan and Kellogg's admirable little book, "Animal inwards at first in each horn. Life," we read (p. 293) :-"The mongoose, a weasel-like " I have, however, seen exceptions; there is one from N epa! creature, was introduced from India into Jamaica to kill rats in the British Museum.'' and mice. It killed also the lizards, and thus produced a After searching many books on horns (including Mr. plague of fleas, an insect which the lizards kept in check.'' Lyddeker's), this is the only note on the direction of spirals As it is evident from this and other signs that the Jamaica that I can di•cover. The cause< oi the spirals, and of the mongoose is to l•ecome celebrated-in text-books, it seems worth differences in directions, are still to seek. while to call attention to the facts actually known about it. An Cambridge. GEORGE WHERRY. excellent summary showing the status of affairs in 1896 was written by Dr. J. E. Duerden and published in the Journal of the Institute of Jamaica, vol. ii. pp. 2R8-291. In the same SOME D!SPUTED PO!NTS IN ZOOLOGICAL volume, p. 471, are further notes on the same subject. The creatures which increased and became a pest were ticks, NOJ1ENCLATURE. not fleas. The present writer can testify to their excessive AMONG that large section of the general public who abundance in the island in 1892 and 1893. The species were are interested, to a greater or less degree, in various, and were examined by Marx and Neumann, whose natural history there is a widely spread impression that, determinations appear in Journ. bist. Jamaica, vol. i. p. 380, as most of the more familiar animals have a single, and vol ii. p. 470. It will be noted that the common species definite and indisputable popular designation, so every are not confined to Jamaica, and, in fact, have probably, most of known species in the animal kingdom has one proper them, been introduced from elsewhere. Hence it is quite technical title by which it is known throughout the zoo• possible that their abundance is in large part due to their recent introduction. T. D. A. CocKERELL. logical world ; and consequently that when they have East Las Vegas, New Mexico, U.S.A., January 17. once made themselves acquainted with this title, there is no more to be said on the subject. To a certain limited extent (some authorities would, perhaps, be inclined to Thermochemical Relations. say invariably) there is no doubt that this idea is per• LET u< consider gr. 2 of H, gr. r6 of 0 and gr. 71 of Cl, fectly well founded: But, in the first place, there is a namely, volumes 2 of H, I of 0, 2 of Cl. We can combine difference of opinion among zoologists as to the limits of these corps two by two to form the three following compounds:- genera, and whereas one worker would retain a species in the genus in which it was placed by its original de• gr. 87 of Cl.O gr. r8 of H 20 gr. 73 of HCl scriber, another would regard it as entitled to represent that occupy respectively 2, 2, 4 volumes. a genus by itself. Thus one great element of diversity The heats of combination are respectively:- in nomenclature is introduced. -14 +ss +44, But there are also a very large number of cases in which an equal diversity of view obtains as to the proper between which is the simple relation specific title of an animal. And the inquirer will not be - 14 + ss = 44· long in ascertaining that, in pl

"Systema Natur;e," considered hi mself justified in "pro• to repeat the generic name, as mstanced above m the m·oting" the speci fie title camelojJardalis to generic rank, case of the kudu. In this connection it may be noticed and proposing a new specific name for the animal thus that even those who object to the "Scomber scomber" designated. ( ervus camelopardalis, Linn., thus became principle come perilously near to it when subgeneric terms Camelojiardalis giraffa, Gmelin. Similarly, in much later are employed, as in Cervus (Dama) dama for the fallo-w years, Gray changed the Antilope strepsiceros of Pallas deer, which they would call Dama vul;;aris if regarded into Strepsiceros .'mdtt. According, however, to the as a· separate genus. It should likeWise be mentioned modern school of zoologists, such changes were totally that the bracketing of a name is only admissible when it unjustifiable; and they hence advocate what is known is used in a subgeneric sense, as above. Consequently as the " Scomber scomber" principle, on which the title the practice of indicating a synonym in this manner, e.r;. of the kudu becomes Strepsiceros strepsiceros. To many Microtus (Arvicola), is totally unjustifiable, although it (among them the secretary of the Zoological Society) is frequently practised by biologists other than system• such tautological titles are most repugnant ; and in atists. the case of the animal last mentioned they accordingly The mention of JJficrotus, the title now employed by prefer to retain the title proposed by Gray. In the case the modern school to designate the voles in place of of the giraffe, by a fortunate circumstance, the difficulty Arvicola, which was in almost universal use a few years does not arise, for the generic title Giraffa had been ago, brings us to the vexed ·question of priority. Although proposed at an earlier date than the "promotion" of there are still many zoologists who adhere to the 'practice Camelopardalis, and the name of the animal conse• of using names(both generic and specific) which, in spite of quently became automatically Giraffa camelopardalis. not being the earliest, have been current in literature for a If the " sacredness" of the species name be insisted long period, the general trend of opinion is all in favour upon, and the tautology objected to, a way out of the of the enforcement of the rule of priority (even to the difficulty in the case of the kudu and many other bitter end) among systematists. In the main, it must be analogous instances might be found by making a new confessed that the. advocates of this have reason on their generic title, when the animal might be called Kudua side, as otherwise we are landed in almost hopeless diffi• slrepsiceros. But the case of the striped hy;ena, the culties. But admitting the general principle to be the most Canis hyaena of Linnreus, then arises as an example of logical, may there not be room for the exerdse of some another difficulty. For this animal was subsequently discretion and common sense ? A naturalist, for instance, named Hyaena striata, altered by the modern school to years ago described, from a cave in America, what appears Hyaena hyaena; and if we refuse to accept the latter to be an· upper premolar tooth of the white-tailed deer, to and yet desire to retain the original species name, we which he gave the name Odocoileus, on the supposition have to abrogate such a familiar generic title as Hyaena, that it represented an unknown type of ani1nal. As a and likewise the family name Hyaenidae (for there are matter of fact, he ought to have referred it to the genus but few who would advocate the retention of a family Cervus, as that genus was then understood. Yet name when the generic title from which it is derived is American naturalists propose to adopt this name for the abolished). The older naturalists, in the absence of any white-tailed deer and its allies. Such usage is a premium law to the contrary, considered themselves perfectly on incompetence and ignorance ; and it does not seem justified in promoting the specific title to generic rank, fair that names so given should supersede those proposed and personally we fail to see ou what grounds the present by workers who know their business. Of course there generation think themselves entitled to override this de• are many difficulties when the discretionary element is cision, as, in our own opinion, there is no right or wrong once introduced, but, like all others, they are not insuper· in the matter. That similar changes are now forbidden able when properly handled. is, of course, fully understood. One .of the greatest evils arising from the wholesale But bad, in the opinion of many, as is the tautology change of names that has been introduced of late years of Strepsiceros slrepsiceros, worse is to follow. By those through this revival of the right of priority is that it who admit the principle of "trinomialism" to designate renders obsolete to a great extent works such as Dr. local races of animals, if the kudu were divisible into Wallace's "Geographical Distribution of Animals"• two or more such races the typical form would, accord• works that ought to stand for all time. It further in• ing to American writers, become Strepsiceros strepsiceros volves Lhe task of recollecting a double series of names slrepsiceros. And, again, if the lesser kudu were sub• if such works are not to be cast aside in toto. It is generically separated from the larger species, the title largely on this ground that so many biologists other than of the typical race of the latter would become Strepsiceros systematists refuse to conform to the new view. The (Strepsiceros) strepsiceros slrepsiceros / We do not like evil induced by the change is undoubtedly great and to use the term absurdity in connection with the views much to be deplored; but it will certainly not be remedied of others, but it becomes almost difficult to refrain. by the refusal of one section of workers to follow in the That some designation is advisable for local races of footsteps of those of their brethren who alone have full species is arlmitted by nearly all, but there is still a re• opportunities of arriving at the best decision with regard luctance among many to accept the aforesaid trinomial ism. to a matter bristling with difficulties. To many such the interpolation of the word "var." be• From priority in nomenclature the transition to the tween the specific and the racial title. appears prefer• question of preoccupation is an easy one. That the use able ; and to this plan there can be no objection, of a generic name in botany is no bar to its employment albeit it is somewhat more cumbersome. It must, how· is now generally conceded ; but it is considered advisable ever, be borne in mind that when the word "var." is that such names should be given as seldom as possible. inserted the third title must agree in gender with the Most zoologists are likewise agreed that when absolutely species name, whereas in trinomialism proper it agrees the same name has been once employed as the generic with the genus name. To avoid tautology, many zoo• designation of any group of animals (whether it be in use logists use the designation "typicus" for the type race or not), it cannot be employed for another. There is, of a species, but this usage is objected to by others in however, a want of unanimity as to whether the same that it is practically a new subspecific title. name with a different termination-e.g. Hydropotes and This, again, leads us to notice a modern change in Hydropola, or Mastodon and Mastodus-may be used regard to subgeneric titles. Formerly, when a genus for two groups. Closely connected with this is the ques• was divided into subgenera, a new subgeneric name was tion whether the transliteration or grammatical formation proposed for the typical group, e.g. Cerv us (Eucervus) of names should be amended-e.g. Machairodus to elajJhus for the red deer. Now, however, the practice is lllachaerodus, or Megatherium to Megalothen·um,· ami NO. 1632, VOL. 63]

©1901 Nature Publishing Group 350 NATURE (FEBRUARY 7t 1901 whether, if they are not so amended, the use of both is To arrive at a settlement in regard to these and many admissible for d1fferent groups. Some even go so far as to other points in dispute will require forbearance and the say that an obvious in the spelling of a name, as, for ex· subordination of individual inclinations to the voice of ample, Rlzinchosaurus m place of R!tync!tosaurus, should the majority; compromise and common sense being, we not be amended, and that the previous use of the in• venture to think, at least as necessary as adherence to correctly spelt name should be no bar to its subsequent inelastic rules. employment for another group in the correct form. To In the foregoing we have purposely refrained from many, at least, of those who have even the slightest making any reference to Mr. H. M. Bernard's proposal knowledge of the classics such a practice must be re• to abolish specific names in those forms of life " which pugnant. And to a certain extent, at any rate, the same cannot be at once arranged in a natural system," for the remark will apply to hybrid names, although the general reason that, if we understand him aright, it is his inten• <:onsensus of opinion is now against the amendment of tion that the abolition in question should apply only (for these. Less objection can be taken to meaningless the present, at any rate) to corals, sponges, and perhaps names, or anagrams (such as Xotodon, the anagram of other low types of invertebrates. \Vhatever, therefore, Toxodon), which, if euphoniously formed, serve their may be its merits or demerits, the proposal is not yet purpose fairly well. And the old objection against so• intended to apply to such forms of life as are capable of <:alled barbarous names has of late years been waived by being arranged in some approximation to a " natural many workers. Although it is by no means a general system" ; and the discussion of the disputable points view, such names are more euphonious when Latinised, in connection with specific names alluded to above as in place of Linsattj;, and Coendua for is accordingly not yet rendered superfluous. Coendou. Then again there are names like Camelo• R. L. pardalis (giraffe), Hippotigris (zebra), and ltipjJocamelus 1------• (a deer), given on the supposition that the animals to which they refer are intermediate between the two CHARLRS HERMITE. indicated by the compound title. The two former have MONG those mathematicians who assisted in making late classical authority, and may further be justified on A the nineteenth: century, and more especially the account of the coloration of the animals to which they Victorian era, a period of unparalleled act1vity in the refer, but to some persons, at least, the acceptation of the scientific world, the name of Charles Hermite will be third is objectionable. It must be confessed, however, indelibly imprinted in our annals as that of one who that when once individual fancy is allowed play in matters did much to develop the study of higher algebra, of this sort, it is difficult to know where to draw the line. geometry, analysis and theory of functions. Another class of names are those which have been ' Charles Hermite was born at Paris in 1822, and at the given to species on the evidence of ma1med specimens, or age of twenty he entered the Ecole Polytechnique. His examples whose place of locality was incorrectly recorded. mathematical genius was not long in showing itself, for The great bird-of-paradise was thus named apoda, while shortly afterwards we find him corresponding, at the the name ecaudatus has similarly been applied to at least instigation of Liouville, with Jacobi on the subject of one mammal. Again, a bear inhabiting the Himalaya Abelian functions, and the predictions of the latter bas been named tibetanus, while there are even more mathematician that Hermite would soon extend the flagrant instances of misapplied geographical titles. :\1any fields of study which he himself had done so much to workers of the modern school assert that no errors of this open out was soon verified. From the theory of con• kind should be amended ; while some would even say that tinuous functions Hermite soon passed on to the theory although Tibet is the accepted modern way of spelling of forms, and gave a general solution of the problem of the country of the lamas, yet that if the specific title was arithmetical equivalence of quadratic forms. He also originally spelt thibl'tanus, so it must remain for all time. discovered a new arithmetical demonstration of Sturm's A common-sense, rather than a pedantic, \'iew can, we and Cauchy's theorems on the separation of roots of think, be the only safe guide in such cases. When a algebraic equations. . . . name inculcates an error in geographical distribution, its The study of higher algebra, wh1ch sprang mto exist• retention, from this point of view, is clearly indefensible. ence with the discovery of invariants, was opened up So, again, in the case of names due to misconception or simultaneously by Cayley, Sylvester and H':rmJte, and It maimed specimens. Where, for instance, the name would appear that to the latter we are ecaudatus denotes a long-tailed animal, its retention is indebted for the law of reciprocity, the d1scovery of against common sense. On the other hand, where the associated covariants and gauche invariants, and the feet of a bird are inconspicuous, as in the swift, no formation of the complete system of covariants of great exception can be taken to the use of the name apus. and biquadratic forms and invarian.ts of. the gumt1c. The last point in dispute to which we have space to Concurrently with these researches m anthmet1c and refer is the right of an author to withdraw a name pro• algebra, Hermite was engaged on the study of th': trans• posed by himself in favour of some later title. A well• formation of hyperelliptic functions and expansiOns of known instance of this is afforded by the name Dauben• elliptic functions, and he was also the first to that tonia, proposed. by Geoffroy in 1795 for the aye-aye, but, the number of non-equivalent of qu.adr.atJ.c on account of preoccupation in botany, subsequently having integral coefficients and a g1ven IS withdrawn by him in favour of Cuvier's name Chiromys (or finite. In 1856 Hermite was elected to the Instltut, C!teiromys, as it was originally spelt). Whereas the right being then thirty-four years of age. In 1858 he an of withdrawal was denied by Gray (and the older name important step in connection with the study. of elbpt1c revived), by Sir William Flower it was admitted. The and theta functions by introducing a new vanable con• modern tendency is to follow Gray. If the preoccupa• nected with the q of Jacobi by the relat!on q = e"'"', so tion of a zoological name by a botanical were now ad• that w = tk','k. He was then led to cons1der the three mitted, of course Geoffroy's change would be followed. modular functions denoted by cp(w), x(w) and o/(w). The question is whether, being right according to the A transcendental solution of the quintic in"olving views of his own time, there is sufficient justification for elliptic integrals was given by Hermite, the first paper sayinlj that he acted ultra vire.<. Moreover, the possi• appearing in the Comples rmdus for 18 and bility IS to be borne in mind that the next generation of papers in 1865 and 1866. After Herm1te s first publication, zoologists will revert to the view that the use of a generic Kronecker, in a letter to Hermite, gave a second term in botany bars its subsequent employment in the in which was obtained a simple resolvent of the s1xth sister science. degree. NO. 163 2, VOL. 63) ©1901 Nature Publishing Group