Dear all,

Not to mention that some common names are simply made up. One well-known
Australian author, who believes in common names and uses them in all his
books, once described to me how he used the scientific name to create a
common name if the species didn't already have one (which is in probably
99% of the cases). The worst thing is that he kept a straight face and
appeared to be entirely serious.

Other authors may be forced to make up or give greater prominence to common
names by their publishers. I think a recently published small guide on
Australian shells is an excellent example of this.

As a consequence of the publishing of the above book, I have received a
number of confused E-mails from people who notice that the common names for
one and the same species vary between books. And I have been forced to
mention, again and again, the three most important things about common names:

1. Don't use them
2. Don't use them
3. Don't use them

I'll get off my soap box now

Patty


Dr. Patty Jansen

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