4 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 73 



All papers were then forwarded to Commissioner Chapman for 

 review and opinion. His report reads as follows : 



Re Leucochila and Lcucochilus, after examining the evidence for and against 

 the use of. Leucochilus Boettger, I have drawn the following conclusions : 



I. — Since Leucochilus was suggested by Boettger as an equivalent term to 

 Leucochila (but with emended spelling), of the section P. annifcra, it is clearly 

 a homonym of Leucochila. 



2. — Leucochilus only differs in generic ending, and therefore it is inadvisable 

 to retain it in such closely related groups where it would be a source of confusion. 



3. — For the above reason that Leucochilus Boettger must be taken as a 

 homonym, I would suggest the use of Bifidaria Sterki, as it has been properly 

 defined and supplied with a type. 



The papers were submitted also to Dr. Paul Bartsch, United States 

 National Museum, who' writes : 



I have talked this matter over with Dr. Dall and we both agree with you. 



With the foregoing data, the Secretary requested an informal 

 ballot from the Commission. As basis for the vote the Secretary 

 proposed the following summary : 



Upon utilitarian grounds, regardless of all other considerations, the Com- 

 mission hereby declares Leucochilus, 188 1, as suppressed in favor of Leucochila, 

 i860; any other action would involve risk of lasting and constant confusion in 

 two rather closely allied genera. 



In Circular Letter No. 156, the Secretary reported as follows: 



Eight (8) Commissioners (Chapman, Dabbene, Horvath, Neveu-Lemaire, 

 Stiles, Stone, and Warren) accept the Opinion as written, without comment. 



Three (3) Commissioners accept the general result of the Opinion, but com- 

 ment as follows : 



Hartert : Opinion concurred in " but not on utilitarian grounds which is 

 absolutely dangerous and objectionable ! It is not in the conception of the 

 ' Rules.' " [But cf, wording of suspension — C. W. S.] 



Jordan (David Starr): "I vote with the affirmative on the view that the 

 suspension of Leucochilus will avoid confusion. It is now on the basis 

 that new names for new genera should not be formed by change of gender 

 of old names. Gasterostea Sauvage (not valid) was proposed for a sec- 

 tion of Gasterosteus. But I shall vote that names differently spelled 

 (except through carelessness) are different names until we have a defi- 

 nite decision. It is not, as Mr. Woodward writes, a matter of ' igno- 

 rance.' I am willing to take either view if properly defined and a majority 

 agrees. In Ichthyology we have some 40 cases and an agreement is very 

 desirable." 



Jordan (Karl) : " From the facts 



(i) That Boettger says: ' ich halte die Benennung Leucochilus fiir 

 .... auf recht ' and 



(2) That Boettger states Leucochilus =■ Leucochila Albers-Martens, 

 it follows that Boettger did not propose a new name, but retained the old 



