Abstract
II. DR. COUES said that he was much gratified at the interest shown in the subject of zoological nomenclature, and indorsed the words of the Chairman that names were of the greatest possible consequence. Nomenclature was a necessary evil, and the point was always to employ that method of naming objects which should most clearly reflect not only the characters of the objects themselves, but our ideas respecting those characters and the view we take of them. As to what constitutes a species, there had been an absolute revolution in the definition of a species since the time of Linnæus, the opinion having been long held that every species was a distinct and individual creation. But that idea had passed out of existence in the minds of most natural historians of the present day, who accepted a general theory of the evolution of species by a gradual modification. That being the case, it was idle to inquire “What is a species?” no such thing existing any more than a genus; and so intimately related were all forms of animal and vegetable life that, if they were all before us, no naming would be possible, for each would be found to be connected completely with another; therefore the possibility of naming any species was, as it were, the gauge and test of our ignorance. Having thus touched veiy briefly upon the subject of missing links, which alone enable us to name objects which still exist, Dr. Coues proceeded to inquire, “What of so-called species the connecting links between which are still before our eyes?”In illustration of this he would cite some instances of connecting links which exist between certain forms. He then referred to the case of one of the best-known Woodpeckers in North America (Picas villosus), and discussed its climatal and geographical variation. He was of opinion that all these geographical races were indistinctly separable forms, and he would indicate them by trinomial names, proceeding upon the definite principle of geographical variation according to conditions of environment, meaning by this all the external influences which modify the plastic organism. Moisture, the humidity of the atmosphere, appeared to have the greatest effect, particularly in regard to colour. Latitude, with its varying degrees of heat, determined size more than any other influence. As a matter of fact this condition of things was found to occur, and the question was, How should we recognise it in our language? Specification had ceased to be of use, and the question was whether the system in favour in America was sufficient or insufficient to meet the case. On these points he would be glad to hear opinions; and in concluding he would read a paragraph from the new edition of the “Key to North American Birds,”giving formally the rule for the employment of trinomials as now in use by American ornithologists and many other zoologists of the United States. This rule is as follows:—
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Zoological Nomenclature 1 . Nature 30, 277–279 (1884). https://doi.org/10.1038/030277a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/030277a0