Oldfield Thomas

“ So great is the general dislike to change in nomenclature that after the publication of such a paper one finds that some people reject the changes altogether, while others adopt them, using the fresh names as occasion offers, the natural result being a long period of confusion and inconvenience. ”

“ THE TECHNICAL NAMES OF BRITISH MAMMALS.
By Oldfield Thomas, F.Z.S.
Nomenclature, like linguistics or the structure of Greek names, is one of the collateral subjects which, however far from true zoology, have yet to be dealt with by every working zoologist; while it has the added inconvenience that, however it is done, whether rigidly or laxly, by rule or without it, its study is sure to bring down on the head of the worker the wrath of outsiders whenever unexpected results are arrived at. ”

“ The object of nomenclature is to obtain a stable list of names, and while experience shows that such stability is unattainable while each author clings to what he or she thinks is the "well-known" name, it equally shows that at first a technical, and then a general, uniformity may be obtained by the rigid application of the principle of priority, whatever the temporary inconveniences of such a course may be. ”