484 Transactions. 



Area decussata (Sowerby, 1833). [P. 848.] 



If the species Byssoarca decussata Sowerby be included in the genus 

 Area, the division Barbatia being considered as a subgenus only, then some 

 other specific name must be utilized, as there is a prior Area decussata Linne, 

 Syst. Nat., ed. x, 1758, p. 694. 



Since the preceding lines were penned Mr. E. A. Smith has investigated 

 this matter, and has discovered from examination of the type that the 

 New Zealand shell is quite, distinct from Sowerby 's species, and is name- 

 less. His report will be published long before this, when he will indicate 

 the differences, which he has pointed out to me. and which are quite obvious 

 and constant when once recognized. 



The range given by von Martens is altogether wrong, as the New Zealand 

 species is confined to New Zealand, and differs at sight from the Australian 

 shell. 



Suter's usage of the genus Area to cover every Area-like shell is probably 

 due to Dall's influence, but Dall, when he made his subgenera and sections, 

 used these generic-ally in the same place. Such usage is confusing and per- 

 plexing, and, if necessary for convenience, the subgenera should be called 

 genera and the sections subgenera. Thus, on p. 849 Suter recognizes a 

 subgenus Scapharca, and on p. 850, as a section, is noted Bathyarca. The 

 species is then called Area cybaea Hedley. Now, Hedley is no genus-splitter, 

 yet he named the species Bathyarca. cybaea. This nomination convevs 

 some idea of the nature of the shell, whereas Area cybaea leaves only a vague 

 impression. The group Bathyarca is well defined and easily recognizable, 

 and consequently generic rank should be given it, even if only for con- 

 venience' sake. 



Subgenus Mytilus s. str. [P. 862.] 



This must be quoted instead of Eumytilus von Ihering, used by Suter. 

 The latter is an absolute synonym of Mytilus s. str., and cannot be used 

 under the present nomenclatural laws. 



Mytilus maorianus nom. now [P. 865.] 



I propose this name for the species described by Suter under the name 

 Mytilus magellanicus Lamarck, 1819. There is a prior Mytilus magellanicus 

 Bolten, Mus. Bolten., p. 158, 1798, based upon Chemnitz Conch. Cab., 

 vol. viii, pi. 83, fig. 738, which is not the present shell. Moreover, speci- 

 mens in the British Museum from New Zealand differ from South American 

 shells, whilst Purdie showed anatomical differences also. 



M. capensis Dunker, given in the synonymy by Suter, does not belong 

 to this species at all, and must be omitted. 



Modiolus neozelanicus nom. nov [P. 866.] 



Mytilus ater Zelebor is invalidated by the prior Mytilus ater Molina, 

 Sag. stor. nat. Chili, 1782, p. 202. The synonyms quoted by Suter — Perna 

 confusa Angas, P.Z.S., 1871, 21, pi. 1, f. 33, and Mytilus crassus Ten.-Woods, 

 P.E.S. Tasm., 1876 (1877), 157 — are not referable to this species, so the 

 Neozelanic species is nameless, and I provide the new name above. 



Genus Musculus (Bolten, 1798). [P. 868.] 



When Dall (Journ. Conch., vol. xi, pp. 294-97, 1906) reviewed the 

 alterations necessary through the recognition of the Boltenian genera he 



