1916] Priority in Family Names 91 



accord with the International Committee's rule that in a genus 

 divided into subgenera the one containing the type species shall 

 bear the name of the genus. 



So much for family names. I now wish to call attention to 

 a few other points in nomenclature that have forced themselves 

 upon me during the preparation of this catalogue. 



First, and perhaps most important: What constitutes the 

 founding of a genus? I have looked in vain in the International 

 Rules for an answer to this question, but one conclusion seems 

 incontrovertable : No genius is valid until a type species can be 

 named for it. Thus a genus described without the mention of a 

 species is invalid until a species is included in it and it must then 

 date from the inclusion of such species, and must take for its 

 author the one assigning the species. 



Second. A genus founded without a description but with a 

 definite statement or indication that it is founded on a certain 

 species is valid if the species named has been properly described. 

 If we refuse to accept such a generic name we must also refuse 

 to accept a genus founded in connection with a species in a 

 single description. 



Third. A mere catalogue name is a nomen nudum and is 

 invalid except in cases where it is perfectly evident that it was 

 given to replace a preoccupied name, or a name cited in error. 



Fourth. Emendations are not desirable except where there 

 has been an obvious misprint or error in spelling. Thus I have 

 restored to their original form most of the numerous names 

 emended by Amyot and Serville. 



Fijih. The selection of a genotype is a matter of great 

 importance as in many cases a selection may change the meaning 

 or scope of a genus. In my catalogue I have used the earliest 

 type fixation known to me that does not conflict with the 

 International Rules and common sense. Among the early 

 writers it is sometimes difficult to be certain just what should be 

 considered as type fixations. So far as I can discover Lamarck, 

 in 1801, was the first to say he was indicating the type species in 

 the Hemiptera. Fabricius certainly indicated type species for 

 most of the genera in the Systema Rhyngotorum, in 1803, by 

 repeating with italics the generic characters in his description of 

 the type species. That this was his intention in repeating these 



