[Letters to Editor]

Abstract

I AM sorry to see that “F.Z.S.” still prefers to write under the signature, of his first letter. I was in hopes that when he saw the gravity of the accusation which he was bringing against me, he would in his own person have disclaimed any intention of seriously laying such a charge to my door, but as no word of apology escapes him, I regret that in making such an injurious statement he has not added the weight of his, name to the accusation, I am, therefore, at liberty to suppose that he is no stranger himself to the “evil practise ” (honi soit qui mal y pense) which he deprecates, otherwise I cannot imagine such a thought occurring to anyone; but it is evident that on receiving the book his only impulse was to write a letter to this journal instead of charitably endeavouring to discover some feasible explanation of what he calls the “false ” date. As most naturalists in England are, in the habit of following the rules of the British Association in regard to nomenclature, “F.Z.S.” can find more profitable employment for his pen in proposing such alterations or additions to these rules as would remedy the “grievance” (as I term it) or the “evil practice” (as he prefers to call it), and in that I can assure him he would meet with hearty co-operation from all English naturalists, and from none more heartily than from the undersigned.