Nomenclator Zoologicus

Abstract

EVERY working naturalist must be acquainted with Agassiz's “Nomenclator Zoologicus,” published at Solothurn in 1846, which is, in fact, a dictionary of generic terms used in zoology. Without its valuable aid it is almost a fruitless task to endeavour to ascertain where or by what author any particular generic term has been instituted, or whether a generic term has been already used in zoology or not. Agassiz's work, in the preparation of which he was assisted by some of the best zoologists of the day, though by no means perfect in its manner of execution or free from occasional errors, answers very well for all practical purposes for genera established prior to the date of its preparation, and affords an excellent basis to work upon. It contains upwards of 32,000 entries of names of generic terms and of names of higher groups. In 1873 Graf A. v. Marschall, of Vienna, prepared and issued for the Imperial and Royal Zoological and Botanical Society of Austria, a supplementary volume, on something of the same plan. But to Marschall's “Nomenclator” no general index was attached, and, as those who have used the volume know full well, it is neither so accurate nor so complete as the work which it purports to supplement.

Nomenclatar Zooloyicus.

An Alphabetical list of all Generic names that have been employed by Naturalists for Recent and Fossil Animals, from the earliest Times to the close of the Year 1879. In two parts. I. Supplemental List. By Samuel H. Scudder. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1882.)