BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 119 



its reception, and again in 1875, having formulated yet another 

 new genus under the name of Neoatiwrina, he returns to the sub- 

 ject and proposes "forming on it a family to be called Xeoatheri- 

 nidce,^^ which was also to contain the genus Atherinosoma. 



We have, therefore, already three diflferent families — Pseudo- 

 mugilidce, Zanteclidfe, and Neoatherinidoi — proposed for the 

 reception of different genera of these fishes, for not one of which 

 has any diagnosis been even attempted. 



To prevent confusion with these older undefined names, it has 

 appeared advisable to me to suggest a new name for the family, 

 though for reasons which I give below I am constrained to make 

 that genus typical, which from its slight specialization is the least 

 suitable; nevertheless, since Dr. Gill has already formulated for 

 certain of these fishes a subfamily of the AtherinidcB under the 

 name Jlelanokeniince, I do not feel justified in proposing to 

 change his name for the more suitable one of Rhombatractidie. 



There are several cogent reasons which point to this course as 

 being the most fitting to pursue under the circumstances. Taking 

 Castelnau's proposed families first : — 



The use of Zanteclidm is precluded, its typical genus Zantecla 

 being synonymous with and of later date than Mekmokenia, and 

 therefore inadmissible; while JVeoatherinidcp, as well as being the 

 last suggested name and belonging to a less distinctly specialized 

 genus, is formed on a bastard title, the employment of which 

 should be as much as possible deprecated, at any rate so far as 

 the names of families are concerned: besides which it labours 

 under the disaljility of having been associated by its author with 

 a genus which undoubtedly belongs to the Atherinidce proper. 



My choice, therefore, is restricted to the use of PseudonmgdidcH 

 — the only one of the three proposed names which in the author's 

 opinion, is entitled to consideration — or to the substitution of 

 Melanotceniidfe, and I believe that I am consulting the best 

 interests of science by taking the latter course, for the following 

 reasons : — 



Pseudo^nugif idee— a,]so a bastard name, and therefore open to 

 the same objection as jVeoatherinidce — is misleading, since the 



