some of the work might properly be regarded as bi-products as during 

 my studies of the Brachiopoda in Eastport, Maine, a number of species 

 of mollusks came under my vision and I could not refrain from drawing 

 them. In this communication some of the descriptions were made 

 under the same conditions. 



In the " Lamellibranch " paper a few introductory pages were 

 devoted to a protest against the recent multiplication of generic names 

 and abandonment of many generic names that had been familiar to 

 students for nearly a century. I quoted a number of authorities who 

 had uttered emphatic protests against this growing evil. Many others 

 might have been quoted. Prof. F. B. Sumner, in "Science," June 

 18, 1915, in an article entitled, "Some Reasons for Saving the Genus," 

 vigorously attacks the taxonomists. His illustrations are cogent and 

 convincing. He says, "Returning to the subject of generic nam.es, it 

 must not be supposed that the only evil resulting from this progressive 

 'splitting' is the mere inconvenience of our having to learn new names 

 as fast as the old ones are displaced by accredited authorities. This, 

 indeed, is bad enough, but there is an even more harmful result which. 

 I think, deserves further emphasis. I have spoken above of generic 

 names as verbal clues to the nearer kinships between species. These 

 clues lose their value in proportion as genera are made less and less 

 inclusive." Dr. Harold S. Colton, in "Science," September 3, 

 1915, not only heartily approves of Prof. Sumner's article but gives 

 another reason for saving the genus. He says, "I am sure he has the 

 sympathy of the great mass of workers in non-taxonomic biology." 

 He further says, "This whole discussion hangs on the question, is it 

 necessary to change generic names to advance our knowledge? The 

 writer believes that to change generic names without an overwhelming 

 amount of evidence in favor of the change is hindering instead of 

 advancing science." That the feeling is bitter among zoologists is 

 indicated by the following extract from a letter of a professor of zoology 

 in Harvard. "I fervently add an Amen to your sermon at the begin- 

 ning of the 'Lamellibranchs' and I can't tell you what a delight it was 

 to open its pages and meet the good old names: Modiola modiolus, M. 



