PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 573 



aud Valencienues, vii, 254. The earliest of these uames should be used, 

 and Kyphosus should therefore supersede PimeJepterus. The word should 

 however be spelled with an initial C, as Cypliosus. 



5. MONODACTYLUS. 



The genera, Monodactylus La Cei)ede (Hist. Nat. Poiss.,iii, 131, 1802, 

 M. falciformis Lac), CentropodusJ^a Cepede (iii, 303, C. rhomheusIjaG.). 

 and AcantJiopus (iv, 558 ; A. argenteus (Gmelin) and A. Boddcvrti (Gmelin) ) 

 are all based on species of the genus afterwards called Psettus Cuv. 

 & Val. This genus should therefore receive thenaiueofi¥oHO(7ac#^/?^6'. 



G. SCOMBEROMORUS. 



Scomheromorus (iii. 293 ; S. plumierii La Cep.) is based on a dra wing- 

 by Plumier. The genus is distinguished from Scomber by the supposed 

 continuity of the dorsal tins, a fallacious character. The species is iden- 

 tical with Scomber regalis Bloch, and the name Scomberomorus, if ac- 

 cepted, must supersede Cybium Cuv. & Val. 



7. OEPHALACANTHUS. 



It appears to be reasonably certain that the small fishes which have 

 received the name of Cephalacantlms La C. (iii, 323, 1802 ; C. spinareUa 

 L.) are the young of, or, at least, not generically different from, the Flying 

 Ournards {Bactylopterus La C. iii, 325). The name GepliaJacanthus has 

 two pages priority, and should in strictness supersede Bactylopterus. 

 The application of the law of priority to different parts of the same work 

 is often as important for the avoidance of confusiou as its application 

 to different works. The law of primogeniture applies to twins. 



8. DIPTERODON. 



The genus Dipterodon La C. (Ilist. Xat. Poiss., iv, 1G5, 1803) is based 

 on six species, mostly nnrelated, belonging to Lutjanus, Apogon^ Aspro, 

 and Sckena. The first of this species, I>. plumieri^ is identical with 

 Lutjanus synagris, and the name may be considered as a synonym of 

 Lutjanus. 



The sixth species mentioned, " IJipterodon chryso^irus,''^ is evidently 

 identical with Sckena argyroleuca (Mitch.), the second of the two species 

 called '■'■Perca punctata " by Linnieus in the Systema Natu'rte. If the 

 duplicated Linntean name be restricted to the first species to which it was 

 given {Ep'meplielus punctatus), the name clirysura mnst take the place of 

 argyroleuca., and the species stand as Scicmia {Bairdiella) clirysura. 



The name Dipterodon has been used by Cuv. & Val. for a genus un- 

 known to La Cepede. This transfer of the name is not allowable, and 

 the Dipterodon C. «& V. should receive a different name, that of Cora- 

 cinus Gronow (1854). 



