NO. I OPINIONS 68 TO yy 7 



(b) On the other hand Fleming's action of 1828 in placing Pleu- 

 roncctes rhombus and Pleiironectes maxiums in the genus Pleiiro- 

 nectcs is followed later by Fleming (1842), while Jordan & Goss 

 (1889) definitely designate Pleiironectes niaximiis as type of Pleiiro- 

 nectes. 



In answering Doctor Jordan's question, the Commission is of the 

 opinion that Fleming's action of 1828 (pp. 196-199) is not to be con- 

 strued as fixing the type of Pleiironectes. 



Opinion written by Stiles. 



Opinion concurred in by 14 Commissioners : Allen, Apstein, Bather, 

 Blanchard, Handlirsch, Hartert, Horvath, Hoyle. Jordan (D. S.), 

 Jordan (K.), Monticelli, Skinner, Stejneger, Stiles. 



Opinion dissented from by no Commissioner. 



Not voting, 4 Commissioners : Dautzenberg, Kolbe, Roule, Simon. 



The foregoing Opinion was submitted to all Commissioners for vote 

 and to more than 350 zoologists, zoological laboratories, colleges, and 

 scientific institutions for comment. No adverse criticism has been 

 received by the Secretary, but the following comments have been sent 

 to him : 



Commissioner Allen : It seems to me that Fleming in 1822, by 

 including only Pleiironectes platessa L. in his subgenus Pleuronectes, 

 distinctly indicates, in view of his clear recognition of the need of type 

 designations, that he regarded P. platessa L. as the type and that his 

 action in 1828 has not necessarily any bearing on the case. 



Commissioner Bather : I agree with the conclusion arrived at, but 

 I am perhaps more influenced in coming to the conclusion by the fact 

 that Fleming's book of 1828 was professedly a history of British 

 animals only, and that in the absence of any evidence to the contrary 

 it should be so accepted. Therefore, quite apart from the existence 

 of the 1822 work, I should not regard Fleming as fixing types in 1828. 



Commissioner Hartert : It is clear that Fleming did not formally 

 fix the t}'pes in this case, which is perfectly parallel to that of the 

 genera of the swallows of Forster, 1817. I accepted Forster's genera, 

 but the A. O. U. and as competent nomenclaturists of England and 

 Germany disagreed with my action, holding that Forster did not 

 formally designate the type of Hirundo. 



Commissioner Hoyle: Fleming, 1828, did not fix the type of Pleu- 

 ronectes, but I am inclined to think (from the data given) that he 

 made platessa the type in 1822. 



Commissioner D. S. Jordan : I think both cases [Pleiironectes and 

 Spams'] practically above cjuestion — fortunately coinciding with 

 usage. 



