NOTE ON THE "ANALYSE DE LA NATURE " OF RAFINESQUE. 

 By DAVID S. JOHDAIV. 



One of the least known of the many publications of Rafinesque is 

 that beaiinf? the following title: "Analyse de la Nature, ou Tableau 

 de rUnivers et des Corps Organises. Par C. S. Ifafinesqne, Palerme, 

 1815." 



Tills work consists of an elaborate scheme of classification, with defi- 

 nitions of families and higher groups, together with a mention of the 

 genera included under each group. In the part which treats of fishes 

 a very large number of generic names not previously used are intro- 

 duced. None of these are defined in any way, nor is a typical species 

 indicated. Some forty of them, however, are substitute names, intended 

 to be used in place of older names, which were considered by Kafinesque 

 as objectionable. In the severe code which he seems to have adopted, 

 generic names too short, as Naso, Raia, are regarded as objectionable 

 and subject to change. The same is true of names too long, as Cephala- 

 canthus, Cyprinodon. Compound names, as Serrasalmo and Scomheresox, 

 are ruled out, as are also all generic names formed by adding " OMior?<s" 

 or " oides " to the name of some older genus. 



These substitute names of Rafinesque must be regarded as having 

 the same typical species as the generic names they were intended to 

 replace. In case the original name is really ineligible, these Rafiues- 

 quian names must be considered. The other generic names mentioned, 

 those intended by Rafinesque to refer to new genera, are of course 

 valueless as accompanied by no sort of definition or explanation. 



The following is a list of the substitute names: 



Substitute name. 



Page. 



Original name. 



Batrictius 



Daclyleptus — 



Nasouus 



Aleclis 



I'oliptuius 



Orcyinis 



Panotus 



Cephacaudia... 

 Epiphthalmus . 

 Megapliulus ... 



Etjuietus 



Micropodus . . . 

 Brancliiostegua 



Plecopodus 



Percis (Scopoli) 



Aygula 



Clodactylns — 



Gasterodon 



Buronus 



Myxoniim 



Tiichoiiotus ... 



Savris 



Tliiissa 



Prinndon 



Kamphistoma.. 

 Oibidus 



480 



Batraclioides Lar6p6de. 



Mui.euoides Laiiepede. 



Naso Laci-pede. 



Gallus Lac. (preoccupied in birds). 



Scdiulicromoi us Lac. 



Sf (milii(ii<lfs Lac. 



TiiuianotUM Lac. 



Coplialacautliup Lac. 



Gobiomoroides Lac. 



Gobicsox Lac. 



Equos Bloch. 



Cheilio Lac. 



Coryplia'uoides Guiiner. 



Gobioides Lac. 



Aapidophoroides Lac. 



Coiis Lac. 



Cheilndaciylns Lac. 



Serrasalmo Lac. 



Buro Lac. 



Muploides Lac. 



Mugilomorus Lac. 



Scombresox Lac. 



Clupanodon Lac. 



Cvpiinodon Lac. 



BeloDe (Cuvier, 1817). 



Les Sphieroides Lac. 



