Feplv to a '^ Note on a Question of Priority.'' 251 



lull inforniation of what I proposed to do ; but if otlierwise, this letter 

 of the 10th of April was sufficient ; and if after that no pamphlet was 

 received, it seems a little remarkable that Mr. Billings should wait 

 till the SOtli of January following before making any further inquiries 

 about it. 



On the 23d of February, 18Y2, dm-ing my absence from Albany, a 

 letter was received from Mr. Davidson, of date February 8th, in w^iich 

 my attention was called, for the first time, to this question of publica- 

 tion. I replied, stating the facts as I have done here. In a subsequent 

 letter, Mr. Davidson discussed more fully the refusal of Mr. Billings to 

 admit publication, and, as I imderstood the language, had proposed to 

 refer the matter to several scientific gentlemen in England. I wrote 

 quite agreeing to this, and, while feeling no doubt of the ^publication 

 of my pamphlet, proposed a plan in which I consented to drop the 

 name E-hynobolus, thus hoping to prevent a controversy, and saving 

 the amour propi'e of Mr. Billings. In the mean time Mr. Billings pub- 

 lished the article in this Journal, and I wrote immediately withdrawing 

 the proposition. 



The public have here the facts. I have not been aware of any " un- 

 fortunate collision ; " nor of any cause for the succession of statements 

 in the last page and a half of Mr. Billings' article against me, that " it 

 is not my fault that this difficulty has arisen," etc. 



It has, unfortunately, happened, in nearly all cases where I have 

 proposed new genera during the last ten or fifteen years, that I have, 

 according to Mr. Billings' expressed opinions, infringed upon his rights, 

 or violated some rule of scientific jtrocedure.* 



I fully admit that the party at fault in this or any other case should 

 be the sufferer. Mr. Billings has inaugurated, and thus far managed, 

 both sides of what he denominates " this controversy " with his usual 

 tact and adroitness. I have said nothing, while he has published, I 

 believe, three or four articles on the subject. I have entered into no 

 controversy, and hoped to be saved from one. It will not distress me 

 if my name of Rhynobolus should not be adopted. Unquestionably, 

 the pamphlet should have been reprinted at once after the fire ; but in 

 such a condition of things as then existed, every one is naturally 

 absorbed in what appears to he the present duty, and may easily forget 

 some things which afterward may prove to have been of more impera- 

 tive importance. I think this is the experience of the world, judging 

 from the aphorisms, ancient and modern. 



I can say, however, in all sincerity, that, had Mr. Selwyn or Mr. 

 Billings at any time made me a civil statement of the facts, with a 

 request to withdraw the name Rhyxobolus, I would unhesitatingly 



* For example, Triplesia, Rensselaeria, Meristella, Strophodonta, etc. 



