GENERAL SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY 193 



Aurococcus. A generic name proposed by Winslow and Rogers 

 (1906, p. 540) to include the orange cocci. The generic diagnosis 

 given is: 



Parasites. Cells in groups and short chains, very rarely in packets. Gener- 

 ally stain by Gram. On agar streak growth of orange color. Sugars fermented 

 with formation of small amount of acid. Gelatin often liquefied very actively. 

 May or may not reduce nitrates. Includes A. aureus (Rosenbach.) 



The same genus was later discussed by the Winslows (1908, p. 255). 

 They include three species, Aurococcus aureus (Rosenbach) Winslow, 

 Aur. aurantiacus (Schroter, Cohn) Winslow, and Aur. mollis (Dyar) 

 Winslow. 



For the generic name Aurococcus Winslow and Rogers to be estab- 

 lished as valid, it must be shown that the generic name Staphylococcus 

 which is displaced is invalid. The latter name was proposed by Ogston 

 (1883, p. 27), but first used as a generic name by Rosenbach (1884, p. 12) 

 who described a Staphylococcus pyogenes aureus and a Staphylococcus 

 pyogenes albus. The former is the type chosen for Aurococcus Winslow 

 and Rogers. On a later page, Rosenbach uses the combination Staphy- 

 lococcus aureus for the same organism. The genus Staphylococcus 

 Rosenbach is split by Winslows into the two genera Aurococcus and 

 Albococcus, and the original generic name discarded. Article 45 of the 

 International Rules of Botanical Nomenclature states. 



When a genus is divided into two or more genera, the name must be kept and 

 given to one of the principal divisions. If the genus contains a section or some 

 other division which, judging by its name or its species, is the type or the origin of 

 the group, the name is reserved for that part of it. 



It would seem that the Winslows have shown no adequate nomen- 

 clatural reason for abandoning the generic name Staphylococcus. It 

 should, therefore, be retained for one of their genera. Inasmuch as 

 Staphylococcus aureus was described first, and is in a sense the type of 

 the group, the name Aurococcus should be reduced to a synonym of 

 Staphylococcus. This genus can be emended, if desired, to exclude the 

 white forms, thus making the genus Albococcus valid. 



These facts were pointed out by Buchanan (1915, p. 8) and agreed 

 to by the Committee of the Society of American Bacteriologists (1917, 

 1920) and by Winslow, Rothberg and Parsons (1920, p. 161). 



Azotobacter. Agenusof bacteria created by Beijerinck (1901, p. 561) 

 to include certain non-symbiotic nitrogen fixing organisms of the soil. 

 Beijerinck gives the following diagnosis of the genus: 



