Product Description
One of the outstanding problems of the biologist, whether he be beginning student or specialists, is that of understanding technical terms. The best way to understand and remember technical terms is to understand first their component parts, or roots. This dictionary has been designed primarily to meet the needs of the beginning student, the medical student, and the taxonomist, but it should be of value to all biologists.
The best way to understand and remember technical terms is to understand their roots, and these roots are themselves descriptive of the thing. For example, the scientific name OSMODERMA EREMICOLA, taking the parts of this name (osm=smell, derm=skin, erem=solitary, col=dwell) pretty much describes the Hermit Flower Beetle.
Contains a summary of the rules for the formulation of scientific names. For example "Scientific names are Latinized, but may be derived from any language or from the names of people or places". "Scientific names are usually descriptive"--size, form, color, habits--"The rules permit a name to be merely an arbitrary combination of letters but such names are not recommended" [113]).
Lists "Common Combining Forms" in a separate section [118]. This is convenient for formulating a new name - a list of roots under catagories such as Colors, Types of animals or plants, Activity, Habitat, etc.
Second edition, Mayfield Publising, palo Alto , USA, 1971, lightest of edgewear only, 134 pages, paperback.