Patty Jansen wrote:

> 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

The problem with scientific names is that they vary between books, they
change weekly, and none of the taxonomists can agree on the scientific
name for a given organism.  They do, however, help taxonomists and
malacologists gain recognition and tenure (common name for which is
"higher soap box".