Ferdinand von Mueller

30/10/88

You are indefatigable in your exertions, dear Prof Tate, and thus you add discovery to discovery in three sciences! Some day you are sure, to present to us an extended list of Kang. Isl.

1

Kangaroo Island, SA.

plants. It is a singularly rich place for vegetation, considering that it is not of any great elevation.

I hope my small essay

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B88.10.04. M's paper was read to the Royal Society of NSW on 3 October 1888.

will inaugurate a change in the botanic expressions, by inducing both Zoologists and Botanists to settle the many intricated questions of organography. You will observe, that the objection of diminutives will affect only about a dozen words of the 80 in my list; — and that we could not possibly continue ovarium along with ovulum. In the same objectionable way RBr has simultaneously valvate and valvules in the same passage. I have further referred to the subject in the preface to the Key.

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B88.11.02.

Let us discuss it fully before the Australian Association

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Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science.

in successive years. — I am well aware of the term nodular in geology, as I attended 1846 & 1847 the geol. lectures of Dr Mein in Kiel, and made geologic excursions with him along the baltic shores and near them. But "nodular" seems to me a term, that should be eliminated from geology, as likely a better word for what it expresses in that science could be found.

Would there be any objection, to substitute septum for dissepiment in Corals? Trunc for proboscis in Elephants would be merely an English word; what we really need, are science-words , which would be universal , and could then receive English, German French & other endings; thus I object to the German Staubgefässe or Staub-blätter, it should simply be as in English Stamens; — the ending oides could in sound etymology only be given to greek words, and could thus not be applied to the latin words. I have myself used antheroids as a new word in the Key for a portion of the ♂ organs of cryptogams. Kindly remember, that we have two kinds of Diminutives, one for size, an other for division.

Peduncle in Conchology should be in accordance with Surgery & Vertebral anatomy Pedicle notwithstanding the similarity of the name to the little insect

5

The louse.

and for columella in that science I hope it will fall to your share to find an apter not clashing word. My suggestions are only tentative, and surely form the basis merely for discussion, which — considering the wide scope of the enquiry — must last for years, and will involve much and long continued reflection from all of us.