424 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., '12 



both now and in the future, but we must all adhere strictly to these 

 fixed rules. If exceptions are admitted today by a majority vote, they 

 establish a precedent. Who can foretell the end of the influence of 

 such a precedent? Where will the line be drawn? Future genera- 

 tions of biologists still unborn have no present voice in this matter, 

 but their voice will be heard in time. Can we speak for them now 

 and say that these exceptions will appeal to the majority of them? 

 They may easily create a commission in the future to overthrow our 

 entire system of nomenclature if we ever begin making exceptions, 

 for exceptions have no end and will undermine any system ever cre- 

 ated. 



It is evident that the salvation of nomenclatural fixity is the pur- 

 suance of a course which will by its very simplicity appeal to human 

 nature at once and forever. The fewer the exceptions the stronger 

 the rule is always true. The stronger the rule the more surely will 

 it stand the test of time is equally true. If the highest possible degree 

 of fixity for the present which will last into the future is what we 

 want, it seems clear how to get it. If strict priority will not get it, 

 nothing will. If we grant exceptions we are weakening the founda- 

 tion upon which we stand. The International Zoological Congress 

 most wisely framed its rules so as to make the granting of exceptions 

 next to impossible, and I trust that not one exception will ever be 

 granted by it. 



As to Meigen's 1800 generic names and all others of like nature, I 

 agree with Hendel, Bezzi and Coquillett that they are valid. The test of a 

 generic name is our ability to place the type species whence it or- 

 iginated. This is the sense of the International Code. According to 

 this, those of Meigen's 1800 genera of which we know the type species 

 must be accepted. His later genera with the same types are certainly 

 synonyms of the earlier ones. The hardship in accepting such changes 

 falls more heavily on the systematist than on any other person. Mei- 

 gen's 1800 names were highly distasteful to me personally in the be- 

 ginning and I doubt if I shall ever be able to accept them with com- 

 plete satisfaction, but their acceptance means to me simply a step 

 in securing final nomenclatural fixity. If they are not generally ac- 

 cepted now, they will be so at some future time. If changes of this 

 nature are inevitable, the sooner they are effected the better it will 

 be for all concerned. Postponement is the enemy of progress. 



The large majority votes against strict priority, among zoologists 

 in both Europe and North America, seem to me an exhibition of a 

 desire for past and present fixity at the sacrifice of future and final 

 fixity. Such postponement of change can not result in good. CHARLES 

 H. T. TOWNSEND, Lima, Peru, July u, 1912. 



