Some Further Remarks upon the genus Anomalodonta. 28 



"The law of nomenclature, having di^^posed of Megaptnxi, reaches 

 out its hand and suppresses, at least for the present, Ophfhopiera. 

 Because only one of the authors suggested the name with an if and 

 a doubt, and did not himself adopt it, as plainly appears by refer- 

 ence to the publication in the Ohio Paleontology, above referred to, and 

 if he had positively proposed the name, it would have fallen under the 

 twelfth rule governing naturalists, and the reasons therefor, as follows : 



' Unless a species or group is intelligibly defined when the name is 

 given, it can not be recognized by others, and the signification of the 

 name is consequently lost. Two things are necessary before a zoologi- 

 cal term can acquire any authority, viz., definition and pnhlicaiion. 

 Definition properly implies a distinct exposition of essential characters, 

 and in all cases we conceive this to be indispensable, etc." Therefore ; 



' Sec. 12. A name which has never been clearly defined in some 

 published work, should be changed for the earliest name by which the 

 object shall have been so defined." 



' The only generic 'characters ever given to Megaptera, and conse- 

 quently the only ones that Opisihoptera , if alive, can inherit, are the 

 cardinal teeth of an Ambonychia, and a long posterior wing; and the 

 right of possession of these is dependent upon ascertaining that the 

 lateral teeth in the posterior wing of the Qisei is essentially different 

 from the lateral teeth in the posterior wing of the AmbQiii/chia. And 

 if possession is ever acquired, the characters will only be sub-generic, 

 and will include, so far as yet ascertained, but one species, whose 

 name will then be Ambonychia (Ojyidhopdera) Casei (M. & W.) 



' The genus Anomalodonta, having a cardinal tooth and hinge line 

 wholly different from the Ambonychia, can never be aflTected by it or 

 any subgenus under it. So far, then, as anything is yet known the 

 genus Anomalodonta will hold its place in the zoological column, rep- 

 resented by at least two species, Anomalodonta gigantea, the type, and 

 Anomalodonta alata." 



Prof. White, continues : 



" Unlike some other genera, Opisthoptera has its more conspicuous 

 characters external, namely, its form and surface ornamentation, 

 which when taken together are quite sufficient to distinguish it from 

 related types, even from the broad types of Myalina, from which the 

 hinge characters shown by Mr. Miller would not separate it. As 

 Meek and Worthen, and still later, Mr. INIeek alone, have fully 

 described and illustrated these external characters of their type, they 

 have given sufficient means for its identification, which even Mr. 

 Miller found no difficulty in doing. To jMr. Miller's other remarks it 

 is hardly necessary to reply." 



As Meek and Worthen, and later Prof Meek, never suggested, 

 described or illustrated any characters for Megaptera or Opisthoptera, 

 except by indicating the characters of an Ambonychia, the utter want 

 of any foundation for such remarks will be made apparent by refer- 

 ence to what they said on the subject. He now comes to consider the 

 family relations of Ambonychia, as follows ; 



