On the means to be found for promoting the greatest possible stability in zoological nomenclature: an appeal to zoologists for advice

148 Bulletin of Zoological Notnendature ON THE MEANS TO BE FOUND FOR PROMOTING THE GREATEST POSSIBLE STABILITY IN ZOOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE : AN APPEAL TO ZOOLOGISTS FOR ADVICE By FRANCIS HEMMING, C.M.G., C.B.E. {Secretary to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature) (Commission's reference Z.N.(S.)359) (For the decision by the Thirteenth International Congress of Zoology that an investigation should be made in regard to this subject, see 1950, Bull. zool. Nomencl. 4 : 234) TABLE OF CONTENTS Preliminary considerations Page Introductory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Widespread desire for greater stabiUty in zoological nomenclature . . 152 Two possible roads of advance . . . . . . . . . . 153 PART 1. THE INTRODUCTION OF A "LAW OF PRE-SCRIPTION " VIEWED AS A POSSIBLE MEANS FOR OBTAINING A STABLE SYSTEM OF ZOO-LOGICAL NOMENCLATURE Proposals advanced in Paris (1948) and at Amsterdam (1951) in favour of the incorporation in the Regies of a " Law of Prescription " as a means for securing greater stabiUty in zoological nomenclature 154 Questions to be weighed in determining whether it is desirable to recognise a " Law of Prescription " . . . . . . . . . . 155 Question whether it would be practicable to devise a workable " Law of Prescription " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 The weakness of any Law of Prescription arising from the negative character of the test imposed . . . . . . . . . . 156