APPENDIX. THE PROPER USE OF THE TERM BIOLOGY.* BY THEODORE GILL. From the Presidential Address delivered January 28, 1881. The father of modern natural history, following in the footsteps of his prede cessors, recognized three kingdoms of nature, and allowed them equal rank in his scheme of classification. These were severally the subjects of the sciences designated as mineralogy, botany, and zoology. The contrasts between the char acteristics of the first and the last two, and the generalities which have since compelled us to employ a term in common for botany and zoology, were not then appreciated. The same method and the same system of terminology were used by Linnaeus for the description of the mineral as for the vegetable and animal kingdoms. Nevertheless suggestions had been made still earlier towards a segre gation under a common head of the kingdoms of organic nature. As early as 1587, Cristofle de Savigny, in a scarce and little-known work (Tableaux accomplis de tous les arts Iib6raux, Paris,) contrasted the organic kingdoms under a common denominator, psychologie, now universally accepted with a very different signification. The suggestion in question, however, fell still born. It was not till 1802 and 1803 that a term destined to general adoption was proposed. Then the illustrious Lamarck made use of the word BIOLOGIE as a common name under which to consider the phenomena presented by organic nature. A number of words were subsequently urged as substitutes and as better, e. g., Somiologie by Rafinesque, in 1814; Physique Organique by Comte, in 1830; Organomie by d'Omalius d'Halloy, in 1838; Zoologie by Jean Reynaud, in 1843; Organologie by Gerdy,in 1844; and, lastly, Zoonomy by Baden Powell. None of them, however, have been received with favor, and, slowly at first, afterward by general consent, BIOLOGY was accepted as a term much needed to group the many generalities enunciable respecting animals and plants. The old professorships of natural history or of zoology and botany combined are now being replaced by professorships of biology, and almost part passu with exces sive (because exclusive) cultivation of special departments of botany and zoology has been a tendency to combine on common ground to consider the general laws and principles affecting alike the organic kingdoms of nature, and by students agreeing in the method which they employ in their several pursuits. As a result of this feeling has been born the BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. * Much discussion having attended the consideration of a name for the " Biological Society of Washington " the subject was treated of in the first presidential address, and that portion thereof relating to the question at issue is here reproduced. 102
BioStor
