32 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 73 



matter about which he must have known so Httle. It is not surprising that the 

 West Coast paleontologists overlooked a French citation of the type of a genus 

 which is not known outside of the Oligocene and Miocene of California, Oregon, 

 and Washington. 



Since the original author must have intended Agasoma graviduin to be the 

 type, since it has been so considered by West Coast paleontologists, since the 

 first real reviser of the genus named it as the type, and since it would be a pity 

 to make incorrect so much of our geologic and paleontologic literature merely 

 because of an unwitting blunder, I ask if it is not possible, under the Suspension 

 of the Rules, to cite Agasoma graxnditm again as the type of the genus? 



Discussion of case. — This case has been subtnitted to the foUow- 

 ing persons for study and expert opinion : 



(i) Dr. Paul Bartsch, United States National Museum, Washington, D. C. 



(2) Dr. F. A. Bather, British Museum, London, England. 



(3) Commissioner F. Chapman, A. L. S., Museum, Melbourne, Australia. 



(4) Dr. L. R. Cox, British Museum, London, England. 



(5) Dr. Rudolph Richter, Senkenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft, 

 Frankfurt a. M., Germany. 



(6) Dr. T. W. Stanton, United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. 



(7) Dr. B. B. Woodward, London, England. 



The reports from all seven consultants agree on the point that 

 Agasoma does not represent a case for which Suspension of the 

 Rules is advisable. 



On basis of the advice submitted by these seven consultants, the 

 Secretary is not i>ersuaded that " the strict application of the Rules 

 will clearly result in greater confusion than uniformity," and he 

 therefore recommends that the Commission adopt, as its Opinion, the 

 following : 



Summary. — As the arguments submitted for Suspension of the 

 Rules in the case of Agasoma have not been convincing to the seven 

 consulting conchologists and paleontologists who have studied this 

 case, the Commission does not see its way clear to approve Suspension. 

 Agasoma Gabb, 1869, type sinuatnm, is hereby placed in the Official 

 List of Generic Names. 



Opinion prepared by Stiles. 



Opinion concurred in by eleven (11) Commissioners: Apstein, 

 Bather, Chapman, Dabbene, Handlirsch, Horvath, Ishikawa. Jordan 

 (K.), Silvestri, Stiles, Warren. 



Opinion dissented from by no Commissioner. 



Not voting, seven (7) Commissioners: Bolivar, Hartert, Jordan 

 (D. S.), Kolbe, Neveu-Lemaire, Stejneger, Stone. 



