Classification must he expected to grow more complex as knowledge increases and 

 becomes more critical. 



In most groups the authors names and the dates following correctly indicate when a 

 particular scientific name was given to a group, but these should be used with caution 

 for in cases where no specialist could be found to furnish accurate information (birds, 

 fishes, etc.), the editor browsed through systematic works and found such information, 

 some of which later proved to be incorrect. For example, some references credited to 

 Lamarck by various writers are for vernacular names which should have no scientific 

 standing as scientific names. The following groups have been carefully corrected by 

 specialists and are believed to be reliable for authors and dates : Protozoa, Porifera, 

 Coelenterata (except Zoantaria), Platyhelminthes, Nemertea, Acanthocephala, Nematoda, 

 Bryozoa, Brachiopoda, Echinodermata, Annelida, Arachnida, Crustacea, Insecta, Tuni- 

 cata, Amphibia, Reptilia, and Mammalia; other groups may not be. 



A. S. Pe.\rsf.. Editor. 

 Duke University. 

 June 1, 1936. 



5] 



