FORSKAL, 1775 33 



to the species in mind, but Torpedo Houttuyn, 1764, if available, is of still earlier 

 date. 



Salaria Forskal, X and 22; type (without specific name) = Blennius 



BASILISCUS L. 



The genus is equivalent to Blennius L. Not Salarias Cuvier. 

 Scarus Forskal, 25; type Scarus psittacus Forskal. 



The type no doubt intended was Labrus scarus L., of the Mediterranean "an- 

 tiquo nomine oxdgog" ; but that species was not mentioned by Forskal, and another 

 must be taken as the type. The name Scarus was earlier used by Gronow as a 

 synonym of Labrus. Scarus of Forskal must give way to Callyodon of Gronow 

 if the names of Gronow are to be adopted. This is unfortunate, as Callyodon has 

 been used by most authors as the name of another genus in the same family. 



Abu-defduf Forskal, 59; type Ch^todon sordidus Forskal. 



Equivalent to the later Glyphisodon of Lacepede, 1803. The definition of this 

 genus admits of no question. It occurs in the same paragraph with the equally 

 accurate definition of Acanthurus. It may receive objection as a barbarous name. 

 It was probably a "stop-gap" word for which Forskal intended to supply a Latin 

 equivalent. This his editor after his death failed to do and we must apparently 

 take it as it stands : "A generic name is a name without necessary meaning." 

 (Baird.) 



Acanthurus Forskal, 59 ; type Ch^todon sohal Forskal ; to be replaced 

 by Hepatus Gronow, if Gronow's names are adopted; otherwise 

 by Teuthis L. 

 Later restricted by authors to the first species named. Ch. unicornis. 



Besides these names, clearly eligible, Forskal lists a number of sub- 

 ordinate groups or subgenera, under Perca, Scarus and Sci^na. Some 

 of these are properly and fully defined, and would be accepted without 

 question if in Latin. But all are in Arabic, and may perhaps be taken 

 as vernacular words, as one might divide a genus into "Groupers,'*' 

 "Snappers" and "Porgies." We may perhaps reject them on the same 

 ground as that on which we reject "les spheroides." 



In addition to these more or less formal names are two sections, 

 one under Scarus called "dentibus Abudjubbe," equivalent to Cheilinus 

 Lac, and one "dentibus Harid," equivalent to Scarus. Louti and Daba 

 are above reproach, except as to their Arabic origin. Abuhamrur is 

 defined by reference to its type species. Naqua is based on a species 

 referred with doubt to Sci^na. Ghanan, Schour and Tahhmel are 

 names only, identifiable by the correspondence with the Arabic names of 

 their type species. 



These names of Forskal doubtfully eligible, being vernacular and 

 not meant as sub generic. 



