Formality of Latin description

[William A. Hayes]

Joseph makes an excellent point. As a zoologist, I do not have to follow
the Latin diagnosis rule but the importance of attention to detail and
clarity is definitely significant. We are writing these descriptions as
part of an historical record of how science is done. We may make some
errors of omission in our descriptions due to lack of information (more
undescribed species) but we definitely do not want our taxonomic
descendants looking upon us as buffoons...as in Joseph's yellow flower
example. Then, again, buffoonery to us may have been perfectly good
science to them. I guess it is all in your temporal perspective.

Now if only I could pay that kind of attention to everything else I do.

Best wishes,
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William A. Hayes, II, Ph.D.   |   If you follow your bliss, you put yourself
Professor of Biology          |  on a kind of a track that has been there
P.O.Box 3234                  |  the whole while, waiting for you, and the
Delta State University        |  life you ought to be living is the one you
Cleveland, MS 38733           |  are living.
ph: 601-846-4247              |                 ---- Joseph Campbell
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email: bhayes at dsu.deltast.edu |    V-(^)-V    --\\____
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