NO. 19S9. ASCIDIAXS FROM NORTHEASTERN PACIFIC— RITTER. 433 



TABLE 5. 



Depth at which 676 dredge and trawl hauls were made in the north Pacific fj-om May, 1888, 



to May, 1896. 



At 77, or 1 per cent of these 676 stations, ascidians were obtained. 

 The quantitative distribution of the species according to depth is 

 shown in table 6. 



TABLE 6. 



NOMENCLATURE. 



It is ver}' unfortunate that the efforts of Hartmeyer to reform the 

 nomenclature of the Tunicata in accordance \^T.th the international 

 rules should not have met with greater success. In view of the fail- 

 ure of some writers, as, for instance, Herdman, to accept any of the 

 changes, and of the dissent by Huntsman, especially, from Hart- 

 meyer's application of the rule of priority in one of the most important 

 cases, I find myself in some perplexity as to what course to pursue. 

 Undoubtedly, as matters now stand, the nomenclature of the group 

 is in a worse state of confusion than ever, and until agreement can be 

 reached as to the changes really required by the rules it has seemed to 

 me that in the interest of the prime desideratum for a system of naming, 

 namely, stabihty, it is best to adhere to the generic and family names 

 that had been in use without exception for many years previous to 

 Hartmeyer's revision. This decision does not, I would remark, enroll 

 me among those who oppose the strict application of the rule of pri- 

 ority. As a matter of fact I am in favor of such apphcation. But, 

 according to my understanding, the question with which I am con- 

 fronted at this moment is not as to whether, in general, the rule should 

 be followed; but, admitting that it should be, whether in the specific 

 cases at hand it should be applied. 



The proposed changes vdih which I am here concerned are Csesira 

 for Molgula; Pyura for Halocynthia; Tethyum for Styela; and Phallusia 

 for Ascidia. 



80459°— Proc.N.M.vol.45— 13- 



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