172 rohwer: generic name ceropales 



Durrant the writer has spent considerable time investigating 

 the question and collecting the opinions of the various workers 

 on Hymenoptera and has completed a statement of the case for 

 presentation to the International Commission. In the mean- 

 time, and until it is possible to receive an opinion from the Com- 

 mission, he has refrained from adopting any of the changes. 

 The question presented by the genus Ceropales need not, however, 

 wait for this decision as it is largely a zoological problem which 

 is satisfactorily covered by existing rules and opinions. Further- 

 more certain new names have been used for species of this genus, 

 and it seems desirable to review the case with the hope that by 

 so doing unnecessary confusion will be avoided. 



The answer rests largely on the principle of accepting genera 

 for which the included species are not mentioned by name, but 

 also partly on the principle of genotype selection for such genera. 

 In regards to the first point if the codified rules on Zoological 

 Nomenclature do not satisfactorily cover the point of accepting 

 the generic names proposed by Tatreille in 1796, (Prec. Car. 

 Ins.) opinion 46 is very definite, and it seems to the author that 

 the question answered under this opinion is entirely analogous 

 to Latreille's work of 1796. In regard to the validity 

 of the genera proposed in this work the writer beheves that 

 according to the International Code they are valid and must 

 date from 1796, and that the type species must be chosen in 

 accordance with the conditions specified in opinion 46. 



Accepting the validity of the name Ceropales in the 1796 pub- 

 lication we still have the question of its genotype. If Morice 

 and Durrant are correct the name would have to be transferred 

 from the Psammocharid wasps to the Sphecoid wasps. But 

 even here it seems to the writer they have not used the correct 

 interpretation of opinion 46 or adhered to all the principles of 

 genotype selection covered by the Code. The Code specifically 

 says, "The meaning of the expression 'select a type' is to be 

 rigidly construed. Mention of a species as an illustration or 

 example of a genus does not constitute a selection of a type." 

 Since it is as an example that Latreille referred a species to the 

 genus Ceropales in 1802 he did not designate its type. Addi- 



