Nullius in verba and cited elsewhere. Nullius in verba The Royal Society website explains the motto thus: It is an expression of the determination of Fellows to withstand the domination of authority and to verify all statements by an appeal to facts determined by experiment. The phrase came from Horace's "Epistle" to his benefactor Maecenas, where he claims not to be devoted to any particular sect but is rather an eclectic by nature. These are the words, forming two hexameters in the original context: The minor planet known as 11059 Nulliusinverba in the asteroid belt is named after the expression. The phrase is
Res nullius since a thing completely lost or abandoned is "res nullius", and therefore belonged to the first taker. Specific legislation may be made, e.g. for beachcombing. In English common law, for example, forest laws and game laws have specified which animals are "res nullius" and when they become someone's property. Wild animals are regarded as "res nullius", and as not being the subject of private property until reduced into possession by being killed or captured (see, e.g. "Pierson v. Post"). A bird in the hand is owned; a bird in the bush is not. Even bees do not become property until