Original descriptions of organisms are often difficult to visualize, due to the fact that authors attempt to include the variability of the species in the description. Since the scientific name remains associated permanently with the holotype, it is suggested that the description of the holotype (which is a concrete thing) be segregated from the characterization of the species (which is conceptual).My observations regarding the functions and objectivity of taxonomic "descriptions" result from experiences of the past 20 years in trying to visualize described organisms. I offer them in the hope that they may stimulate a discussion of methods which will result in less ambiguity in descriptions and, consequently, in greater ease of recognizing named forms.Obviously the first questions to be answered are: What is a description? What is its purpose? Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (ed. 5) defines description in the following terms: "Discourse, or an example of it, designed to describe a scene, person, emotion, etc." Since Webster utilizes describe to define description, it is necessary to refer to the former, for which the first part of the definition reads: "To represent by words." Webster gives as synonyms of describe: "represent, relate, recount, narrate, express, explain; depict, picture, delineate, characterize." The purpose of a description is to convey a concept of the object under scrutiny as clearly as possible by means of words, pictures, or diagrams.But what are we describing? In the past, we have commonly stated that we are describing a "new species" or a "new Taxonomic "Descriptions" Abstract. Original descriptions of organisms are often difficult to visualize, due to the fact that authors attempt to include the variability of the species in the description. Since the scientific name remains associated permanently with the holotype, it is suggested that the description of the holotype (which is a concrete thing) be segregated from the characterization of the species (which is conceptual).My observations regarding the functions and objectivity of taxonomic "descriptions" result from experiences of the past 20 years in trying to visualize described organisms. I offer them in the hope that they may stimulate a discussion of methods which will result in less ambiguity in descriptions and, consequently, in greater ease of recognizing named forms.Obviously the first questions to be answered are: What is a description? What is its purpose? Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (ed. 5) defines description in the following terms: "Discourse, or an example of it, designed to describe a scene, person, emotion, etc." Since Webster utilizes describe to define description, it is necessary to refer to the former, for which the first part of the definition reads: "To represent by words." Webster gives as synonyms of describe: "represent, relate, recount, narrate, express, explain; depict, picture, delineate, characterize." The purpose of a description is to convey a concept of the object under scrutiny as clearly as pos...
