Hello Andrew and Conch-Lers,

At 09:24 AM 10/5/99 -0500, you wrote:

">The ICZN states at the outset that it excludes names proposed "as a
>means of temporary reference and not for formal taxonomic use as scientific
>names in zoological nomenclature", which I interpret to include names
>proposed as jokes, names proposed in non-scientific publications (a
>category that is open to debate!)..."

The International Code of Zoological Nomenclatur does not necessarily
exclude names proposed in non-scientific publications. In Article 8(a)(1)
the code states that "[the work] must be issued publicly for the purpose of
providing a permanent scientific record", which is not to say that it must
be published in a scientific journal. The Commission did not mention
"scientific publication", a concept that, as Andrew well observed, is
(unfortunately) rather difficult to define.

On a slightly different topic: for Conch-L members interested in the
subject of species description, a book was just published on the subject.
Its title is "Describing Species", authored by Judith Winston of the
Virginia Museum of Natural History, 500 pages, $30 paperback, Columbia
Press. I haven't seen the book yet, and would invite further comments by
folks who have already seen it. BTW, I still think that Conch-Lers involved
in serious collecting should be encouraged, if they have an opportunity, to
peruse the Code.

Best wishes from rainy Sanibel,

Jose
__________________________________________________________________________
Jose H. Leal, Ph.D.
Director, The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
Editor-in-chief, THE NAUTILUS
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