572 oberholser: new genus of anatidae 



other indication of type. Lest a question should arise regarding this 

 as a fixation of type we here definitely designate Anas aegyptiaca 

 Linnaeus as the type of Alopochen Stejneger. Salvadori uses the name 

 Chenalopex Stephens^ for the group, evidently overlooking the fact that 

 it is preoccupied by Chenalopex Dumont,^ and by Chenalopex Vieillot;^ 

 which preoccupation is doubtless the occasion for the original introduc- 

 tion of the generic name Alopochen by Dr. Stejneger. 



The type and only species of Neochen will now stand as Neochen 

 juhata (Spix). ■' 



The taxonomy of the genus Alopochen has apparently given authors 

 more or less trouble. Dr. Stejneger^ associates it with the spur-winged 

 geese (subfamily Plectropterinae) , while Count Salvadori^ includes it 

 among the Anatinae. It seems to be, however, excepting, of course, 

 the above separated Neochen, most closely allied to Rhodonessa Reich- 

 enbach and Asarconiis Salvadori. In fact, these four genera, together 

 with Sarkidiornis Eyton, and probably also the fossil Centrornis An- 

 drews, form a rather homogeneous group, which differs externally from 

 the Plectropterinae in lacking the spur on the wing, as well as in having 

 the head fully feathered, and which may be distinguished by the sub- 

 family name of Sarkidiorni'hmae. 



8 Diet. Sci. Nat. 8: 393. 1817. (Type by original designation, Alca impennis 

 Linnaeus). 



' Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. 24: 132. 1818. (Type by implication, Alca im-pennis 

 Linnaeus). 



' Loc. cit. 



^ Loc. cit. 



