The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-09
Association of American Gsologists and Natu-
rnIlafa.

| DR. AMOS BINNEY, OF Boston, was elected to take
| ms place as chairman
After the minutes were read, and slightly altered,
| at the suggestion OF several members
DR.. JACKSON arose to thank the Society warmly
Tor the unexpected honor conferred upon him the
day before, In his election to the office of President
for the ensuing year; and to assure them that, if
Providence permitted, he would be at his post, and
use all his efforts to promote the harmony and pros
perity Of the Society.
| PRor. RoDGERs moved that committee should
De appointed to petition the Legislature on the sub
ect OF the distributions Of the report of the Geolo
slcal Survey: The motion was adopted, and Profs
| mated as the committee
| MIR. j ID. DANA rose on behalf of the committee
appointed to- revise the scientific nomenclature as
iefined by the rules Of the British Association
They suggested their proposed alterations the fol-
lowing report. which, upon motion, it was resolved
70 submit to the three scientific Societies of New
York, Boston, and Philadelphia, for their approval,
| or such amendments as they might think proper to
suggest.
! LAW OF PRIORITY WITH IT'S LIMITATIONS.
The name originally given TO group, or species,
by its founder should be retained to the exclusion
| OF all subsequent synonymes.
The systematic nomenclature having originated
with LinnHus, this last law is not to extend to the
writings OF antecedent authors.
| In the progress Of science, it often becomes ne
cessary to restrict or extend the characteristics Of
genus, or to subdlvlde 1t into several genera The
| following principles bearing upon the above law,
should be adopted in making such changes.
| A. When several smaller genera are united in
one, the name Of the earliest, if otherwise unob-
ectionabe, should be selected as the name Of the
| whole group
B-When genus is subdiyided, the original generic
name should not be cancelled but should be retained for
that portion Of which was considered typical by the
inthor or the evidence as to the original type is not
saf fb ana nay be given portion
C:-Whcn generic name has synonymc exactly
equivalent to it in its original application, in making
subdivision Of the genus this synonyme should not be
adopted for either OF the genera formed except
when is type, as laid down by its author belonged to
ieren section Of the genus that Of the other
and both these sections elevated to genera For in
nanss, the genus " Monauus. Of velio lsl6) is
authors having adopted the species as their tyne
ana therefore when the latter genus in the
h time to be divided into two was incorrect give
| tons The name Gdemia" and "Aelanetha," wcro
originally synonyms but their respective types
luenty, in raising these two sections to genera their
names are retained for the groups.
ing from the violation Of the rules Of proprey in the in
| PRODUCTION Of terms. They are as follow:
10 s
liest name accompanying such description.
It has been customary for some naturalists to give
names to species in their cabinets in published cata
Th. is not is Il Sufficient len that that
Journal not widely known for its scientific Character
A name Of species already in for another species
Of the same genus, should be changed; also generic
name in Zoology before employed Tor genus in the
kingdom should be changed, and the same in the
20 in its
be changed
and monoculcrs have acquired sufficient currency no
longer to cause and therefore retained without
Names derived from localities where the
specimens found to have wider limits should still be
retained But when we find Barachan reptile named
in violation Of its true afnitics Mastodon saus
when name is derived from accidental monstrosy
IS in Pieus Scmirostes Of LinnRus and Heir dsuncta
Tcnon, another name should be substituted This priy
When the name Of species is Of erwards made the
name Of genus including that species specific
The generic name, Py,rhocorar was called by Linn
aus aPyrrhocorax 1t, therefore, became necessary to
change the specific name and alpnus substituted
The practice Of thus elcvang specific to generic
bad one Objected to in one of the sections below.
LAWS WITH REGARD TO ORrHocRArHY.
Latin orthograPhy should be adhered to- except
in words derived from proper names in which only
Of individuals would often become unntellgible
il modified so as to conform throughout Latin or
rardi in the words Cnich Yudrardi But words Of bar.
berous origin having no fixed photography pill
able add hence when adopted into the Latin should be
rendered as classical in appearance consistent with
the preservation of the original sound.
In compromising two Greek words the first of the two
the terminal consonant.
In compromising two Latin words the same rule should
be followed except that should be substituted when
J.
formis.
Words ofdiesent languages must never be compound.
ed together.
Specific Names derived from locality should tcrm-
nate in
honor Of the discover should end in the gcnitive
but when in compliment to person not dscovercr,
the adjective should end in
Prof ReoERs condemned the of unnecessary names
above all, OF complimentary names. 1t fault to
which naturasts were very to give the of
their friends to Species and he hoped the committee
would recommend in their report the abolition Of this in
| cumbrancc to science.
Prof HALpEMAs observed that in the report of the Bril-
fish Association which was widely circulated they sug.
gcsted that unmeaning names Of this description should
BE- printed commencing with small letter now this re-
gulauon he in favor of ecctual
the bcstowsl Of such names by naturaists would
not consider any great compliment to their friends to
have their names placed in position Of studied obscure
y. Ills prof H's) had been given to several small
animals uaughter) But he expected to see it redeem.
Cd from the by no means lustrous association by the
MIR. wnsLrLrr always Of opinion that science pu.
hed itself and no matter what names were given if
they did not possess meaning they would not last fifty
years. The evil discussed would correct itself
froi Roesss moved that the report should DO recon.
miiied with the recommendation that tho committee
should adopt in tho report the usage OF the British Bsso.
cation in regard to the small letter. Adopted.
The Secretary read letter from Lieut. Johnson dated
fors washita, chocta Nation containing few remarks
on Tie Geology Of the vicinity Of thot station
period tho fossils Of the partially altered states aud
limss,onss Of eastern New York
TIE Secretary next made remarks some of the
metallic Of Mine La Motto in Missouri and followed
them by reading letter from DIR Dickson of hatcher
dated April ~, isas on tho hatcher bluffs with some
mention Of nondescrpt animal Of the class Mammnlia
found near hatcher; Q. Notes Nachez Bluffs by C. s.
forshy ., Notes the Geology Of Mississippi by h. c.
l. Waits, and also remarks tho fossil nfusorin found
IN spccime nsfrom the above localities by ProcssorBcy
Professor kecsss moved the following rcsolu tom
Resolved. That Committee be appointed with insruc.
tons 70 inquire into the question Of the geological ago
Inc xensedon, and 10 report q, tho annual meeting
~ the association. Adopted.
Professor Batss read Paper OF the fossil co.
nifsrous trees Of the United states.
~ ~ y. Wntrytr stated some now views geology,
which received very little u tho attention of the audience
A. ar Ne could appr.hend his theory he considered
The crust u The eatn al period 10 he in the form OF
paste and the mountains protrudcd by the notion OF
mechanical power hrc, he considered mechanical
power, and the process he alluded 70 illustrated by
The eject produced by pressure rcd hot OF iron
Ne asked the society 20 show any good against
bot ~hctser they took NJ the question not he had In
hand work which would shortly appear. lie then read
from slip Of paper the following
III oh ticnlnrlca al suhccia EN-.