94 Mr. F. P. Ccambiidge— ^o/ne 



was found to be congeneric with tlie type of a previous genus, 

 and so the name would be lost as a synonym. But the same 

 objection applies to the case of an author originally breaking 

 up the genus and limiting it to one species, when he iiimself 

 founds a new genus out of one or more of the residue. So 

 that this objection is of no importance. 



There are three very good reasons for recognizing the 

 definite selection of a type-species : — 



(1) Pure elimination, where it leaves us with a single 

 species, is liable to leave us, especially in the case of 

 the older genera, with a phantom species, whose 

 identity is not known and probably never will be 

 known, since all the well-known species have been 

 removed to new genera. The recognition of a type- 

 species, definitely selected by the terms typ, typus, or 

 type, enables us to avoid tiiis contingency. 



(2) Where it leaves us with several species, we can neve-r 

 really know what we are talking about, when we 

 refer to a generic name, until the residue has been 

 finally reduced to one species. 



In the case of Lycosa mentioned above, Dahl tells us that 

 the task of settling on a type " remains for the future worker 

 who again breaks up the residue.'^ 



This is precisely what I was told twenty years ago, uttered 

 under the auspices of the " International Rules," and we are- 

 still awaiting the advent of that future worker who shall 

 inform us, by breaking up the residue left in by elimination 

 and forming a new genus therefrom, what we are to under- 

 stand when we speak of Lycosa^ and, I may add, of dozens 

 of other genera left in like predicament. 



But we want to know now for immediate use, just as w& 

 did twenty, fifty, a hundred years ago. 



(3) It has just dawned upon me that I myself may be the 

 '"'future worker.^' I have before me something like 

 ten genera, each consisting of several species, and I 

 wish to fix upon a type for each, because I believe 

 that the species involved may be conveniently broken 

 up into groups distinguishable by a definite name. 

 But, according to the International Rules (sec. Dahl), 

 I must make a new genus out of the residue of each 

 befoie I can fix upon a type-species. I must found 

 ten neiv genera because I want to fix on the type for 

 ten old ones. 



But if there is one thing we want to avoid, it is the making 

 know what the old ones are, and 



