sql-reader-syntax confusion

>T
>* (select [genus] [species] :from "specimens")
>
>(("Populus" "alba") ("Populus" "alba") ("Populus" "alba") ("Populus" "alba")
> ("Populus" "alba") ("Populus" "alba") ("Populus" "alba") ("Populus" "alba")
> ("Carex" "oligocarpa"))
>("GENUS" "SPECIES")
>
>* (select [genus] [species] :from [specimens])
>
>
>While accessing database #<MYSQL-DATABASE localhost/herb/tws OPEN {B384DA1}>
>  with expression "SELECT GENUS,SPECIES FROM SPECIMENS":
>  Error 1146 / Table 'herb.SPECIMENS' doesn't exist
>  has occurred.
>   [Condition of type SQL-DATABASE-DATA-ERROR]
>+------------------------------------------------+
>
>
>>From the manual it looks like I should be able to use just the square
>brackets, but when I do so with (select ...) it can't find a table that
>does exist. What am I doing wrong?
>

Try

(defmethod db-type-default-case ((db-type (eql :mysql))) :lower)

Does it help?