-184: Miscellaneous. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



[We Imve received from the Secretary to the International Commis- 

 BJou on Zoological Nomenclature a circular letter giving 159 generic 

 names in Protozoa, Ccclenterata, Trematoda, Cestoda, Cirripedia, 

 Tunicata, and Pisces, chiefly Linna?an, which have been proposed 

 for inclusion in the Official List of Zoological Names. Owing to its 

 length we are unable to publish the list in full, but a copy will be 

 sent to any person sufficiently interested on application to the Secre- 

 tary to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, 

 Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum, AVasli- 

 ington, D.C., U.S.A.] 



Notice to the Zoological Profession of a Possible Susjyeimon of the 

 International Mules of Zoological Nome^iclature in the Cases of 

 Musca, Linnceus, 1758, and Calliphora, Desvoidg, 1830. 



In accordance with the Eules of the International Zoological 

 Congress, the attention of the zoological profession is invited to the 

 fact that Dr. L. 0. Howard, W. Dwight Pierce, and twenty-one 

 other professional zoologists have requested the International 

 Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to exercise its plenary 

 power in the case of the Linntean genus Musca, 1758, and, under 

 suspension of the Pules, to declare M. clomestica as type of tliis 

 genus, also, under suspension of the Pules, to validate Callii)hora, 

 Desvoidy, 1830, with C. vomiioria as type. 



The re(piest is based on the grounds of practical utility, and an 

 almost unbroken history of consistent usage since 1758 in the case 

 of Musca, and since 1830 in the case of Calliphora. It is claimed 

 that a strict application of the Eules will produce greater confusion 

 than uniformity. 



According to the premises at present before the Commission, if 

 the Pules are strictly applied, the generic name of Musca would 

 take either M. ccesar or 3J. vomitoria as type, and the species 

 M. domestica would be cited either in Conostoma, 1801 [?] (tyjje 

 Ascaris conostoHa =larva of M. domestica), or in Conosoma, 1802 

 (tvpe Ascaris conosoma = larva of M. domestica). or in Promvsca, 

 1915 (type M. domestica), thus resulting in a very regrettable 

 change in the nomenclature of the species in question as almost 

 universally used in entomological, zoological, medical, epidemio- 

 logical, and veterinary literature. 



The Secretary of the Commission invites any person interested in 

 these cases of nomenclature to communicate his opinion on the 

 subject as soon as possible, and not later than May 1, 1918, when 

 the subject will be submitted to the Commission for vote. 



C. W. Stiles, 



Secretary to Commission. 



25th & E. Streets, N.W., 



Washington, D.C. 



