16 BULLETIN 2 00, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



C. ORIGINAL DESIGNATION 



There are five methods mentioned in the Rules for "designation" 

 of a genotype by the original author. All but the first of these are 

 special cases which amount to designation only because of specific 

 provisions in the Code. 



5. By direct statement.— In proposing a name for a supposedly 

 new genus or subgenus, an author has the privilege (and since 1930 

 the duty) of designating a genotype from among the species he in- 

 cluded in the genus. If none of the previous forms of fixation ap- 

 ply, and if the author has not made an error in his statement, the 

 designation must be accepted. Example : X-us Roe 1880, with species 

 1 and 2. Roe directly states, "Species 2 is the genotype." This is 

 acceptable designation. Example: Smith in 1940 finds genus A-us is 

 preoccupied and renames it B-us. He specifically states that the geno- 

 type of B-us is B-us alhus, which was one of three species originally in- 

 cluded in A-us. However, he failed to note a valid prior fixation of one 

 of the other species as genotype of A-us (A-us niger). The species 

 niger is also type of B-us, and Smith's designation is invalid. Ex- 

 ample : Jones in 1945 described a new genus D-us with three species, 

 1, 2, and 3. He specifically designates a genotype, calling it species 4. 

 It is probable that he changed the name of 4 to 1, 2, or 3, forgetting 

 to change it in the designation. His designation is not valid, and the 

 genotype still is undetermined. 



6. Tyficus or typus. — Article 30.1.b. states, "If in the original pub- 

 lication of a genus, typicus or typus is used as a new specific name for 

 one of the species, such use shall be construed as 'type by original 

 designation.' " 



7. Absolute tautonymy. — Article 30.1.d. states, "If a genus, without 

 originally designated (see 5) or indicated (see 6) type, contains among 

 its original species one possessing the generic name as its specific or 

 subspecific name, either as valid name or synonym, that species or 

 subspecies becomes ipso facto type of the genus." 



8. N. ^., n. sp. rule. — Opinion T states, "The expression 'n. g., n. sp.,' 

 used in publication of a new genus for which no other species is other- 

 wise designated as genotype, is to be accepted as designation under 

 Article 30a." 



Although this Opinion makes no mention of any of the numerous 

 other forms of this expression which are possible, it is not reasonable 

 to restrict its application to cases appearing exactly as stated. For 

 example, if X-us alhiis, n. g., n. sp., is acceptable designation, then X-us 

 alhus n. gen., n. sp., would be equally acceptable. Other forms which 

 seem to be exactly comparable are : X-us alhus gen. et sp. nov. ; X-us 

 n. g., alhus n. sp. ; X-us (gen. nov) alhus sp. nov. ; and so forth. A 

 reasonable extension of the principle would cover the following case 



