NOTES ON THE SYNONYMY OF THE TOKPEDINID^ 

 OR NAECOIJATID.^. 



By Theodore Gill, LL, D. 



Several genera of the family Torpediiiida? have for many years been 

 known nnder names m iiicli are of later date than those nuder which 

 they were first made known. The tyi)ioal genus of the family, too. has 

 for almost a century enjoyed a name (partly a heritage from the 

 ancients) which by right belongs to another very distant genus of true 

 fishes. To demonstrate these facts is the object of the present com- 

 munication. 



I. 



For more than twenty years I have been aware of a use of the word 

 Torpedo which would necessitate some violent changes if the rules of 

 nomenclature were strictly followed. But as most ichthyologists until 

 hitely have been unwilling to follow such rules, if they interfered Avith 

 their preconceived ideas, I have reserved the information in question in 

 order to avoid infiicting too severe a shock, and have hoped that some 

 other might have discovered the facts. No one has yet announced the 

 discovery, however, and as there are now many ichthyologists who are 

 amenable to rules and are willing to accept evidence, I have deemed a 

 historical exposition of certain facts timely and no longer premature. 



In 1775 Forsktil's " Descriptiones Auimalium, Avium, Amphibiorum, 

 Piscium, Insectorum, Yermium," etc., was published, and in it is a 

 description of what is called Baja torpedo. The so-called Retja was 

 distinguished by •' pinna dorsali adiposa, corpore nigro maculato, cirrhis 

 oris sex," and was described at length. The description is applicable to 

 the "electric catfish'' of the Nile. In a note, the species is referred 

 to a distinct genus in the following terms, and with the distinctions of 

 typography here used: 



Obs. 1.1 An cum ilormi/ro. geiiere potest sociari; A'el inter Torpedines posteriores 

 Roiideletii loeuin iuvenire: ant potins novum constituere geuus? Certe detcrmi- 

 natur Torpedmis CHAkacter gknericus: riscis hrmicliiostef/us : apertura liiwari, 

 ohViqna supra pinnas pectoralcs : corpore nudo : piuuh roitralibiis. sen ahdomhuilibus: 

 deniibns numerosissimis, densis, svbulaiis. 



'The second note ("Obs. 2") refers to the habits, electrical properties, use, etc., of 

 the species. 



Proceediugs of the United Slates National Museum, Vol. XVIII — No. 1050. 



Proc. N. M. 95 11 161 



