32 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. J^i 



OPINION 74 



Apstein's (1915) List of Nomina Conservanda 



Summary. — The Commission has no power to adopt en bloc Apstein's list 

 of proposed Nomina Conservanda, but is prepared to consider names separately 

 upon presentation of reasonably complete evidence. 



Presentation of case. — Commissioner Apstein has submitted to 

 the Commission a hst of Nomina Conservanda v^hich was printed 

 in the Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde 

 zu Berhn, No. 5, Mai, 1915, pages 119-202, and which he suggests 

 be used as basis for. studies, the results of which can be submitted to 

 the next International Zoological Congress. The printed document 

 is herewith accepted as Presentation of Case, and reference is made 

 to the printed hst for details. Copies of the list have been mailed to 

 members of the Commission, and the Secretary's Circular Letter 

 no. 19, December, 1915, contains the correspondence on the subject, 

 between Commissioner Apstein and the Secretary. 



Discussion. — An examination of different portions of Apstein's 

 list shows clearly that although full data are not presented in respect 

 to the individual names, many of the generic names quoted are valid 

 under the Code, and in many cases the type species cited is correct. 

 On the other hand, the list contains some names that are not valid 

 under the Code, and in some cases the type species cited is not the 

 correct genotype under the Code. 



The list in question corresponds, nevertheless, to the general invi- 

 tation issued by the Commission in its report to the Gratz Congress, 

 to send to the Secretary of the Commission zoological generic names 

 to be studied in connection with the preparation of an Official List 

 of Generic Names, and whatever may be the individual opinion of 

 zoologists in respect to the names in question, Commissioner Apstein 

 has accomplished an excellent piece of work in compiling this list and 

 thus bringing to the attention of the Commission a number of names 

 that are, more or less, in general use by various zoologists. 



It is equally clear, however, that the Commission has no authority 

 either under the Rules, or under its Plenary Power, to act upon this 

 list as a unit. 



The Secretary has submitted several groups of names to special- 

 ists in the respective groups for special study, and has already placed 

 some of the names before the Commission, for vote. 



