NOTE ON THE ASPREDINID^E. 



ilV 



Theodore Gill, M.D., Ph.D. 



Dr. and Mrs. Eigenmann, in their very important and well consid- 

 ered contributions to the systematic history of the KematognatLs of 

 South America, have substituted for the Aspredinidoi the name Flaty- 

 stacidcv. This was evidently done on the ground that the name As- 

 predo, although early used by Linn.eus and Gronoviu'^, was abandoned 

 by Liuufeus in the later editions of the " Systema Natura'" and was not 

 used by a binomial writer till after Blocb had given to the correspond- 

 ing group the generic name Plafystacus. 



The logic in this case was good but there are other elements to be 

 considered and a more complete survey of the literature wdl reveal that 

 Aspredo can still be retained as a generic name and consequently Aspre- 

 dinidw as a family name. 



I. 



Aspredo was framed by Linnaeus as a name for the species generally 

 known later as Aspredo la'vis or hatrachiis. It was given as a unino- 

 mial name and apparently because the author had not satisfied him- 

 self as to the proper generic relations of the species; it was not given 

 as a true generic designation.* 



11. 



Aspredo was first taken up as a generic name by Gronow (Gronovius) 

 who, in the first volume of his Museum Ichthyologicum (p. 8, 1754), 

 made known a species now generally called As2)redo cotylephorus, but 

 supposed by him to be the Linuie/du species. 



in. 



Aspredo was adopted as a genus by Linnaeus in the ninth edition of 

 his " Systema ISTatune," which was edited by Gronovius, and in which 

 the system and genera of Gronovius were adoi)ted for the class of fishes 



*The description aud figure iu the Amceuitates acadeinicBe (v. I, p. 593, pi. 2, f. 5) 

 are m the dissertation entitled "Laurentii Balk, Gerali-Gestric, Maseum-Adolplio- 

 Fredericiauum," Balk being a student who defended the thesis (May 31, 1746) aud 

 "not the real author. 



Proceedinss National Miiseura, Vol. XIII.— No. 831. 



347 



