368 Prof. J. van dci" Iloeven on the Genus Menobranchus 



thought it more proper to use the name Cryptobranchus, proposed 

 for the Hell-bender by Leuckart m 1821*. 



It seems to me beyond doubt that, even if we demur to this 

 union, the two species in question cannot be referred to two 

 different families. As soon as we unite them, we must renounce 

 the distinction of the Derotreta. I would defer to the judgment 

 expressed in so clear and decided a manner by Prof. Hyrtl in 

 his 'Schediasma anatomicum^t- 



In order to place this gigantic Batrachian in the family of the 

 Proteidse or ichthyoid Urodela, it would be necessary to strike 

 out from among the characters of that division that of the 

 possession of permanent branchiae or branchial fissures. The 

 genera are not numerous enough to render advisable a further 

 division. But there would still remain to be determined the 

 actual disposition to be given to these genera in order that their 

 various relations might be clearly set forth according to the 

 several degrees of their reciprocal affinity. I entered upon this 

 question more than thirty years ago, when engaged upon the 

 class of Reptiles in connexion with the second edition of my 

 ' Manual of Zoology.' I considered it a second time when oppor- 

 tunity was offered me for studying two specimens of Meno- 

 branchus through the liberality of the Smithsonian Institution 

 of Washington. 



I have not as yet spoken of this genus, which deserves a dis- 

 tinct place in the family which we are engaged upon at present. 

 It was constituted under its present name by Harlan, who at 



* Oken's ' Isis,' I. c. The name Menopoma was proposed by Harlan, 

 who had previously given the name Abranchus to this genus, which he 

 fancied was " destitute of branchiae at all periods of its existence " (p. 233). 

 This notion, contrary to all probability, has been refuted by facts. Mayer, 

 formerly Professor of Anatomy at Bonn, found branchial tufts, which, 

 however, were already on the eve of disappearing, in a specimen of 4 inches 

 6 lines, obtained through the Prince de Wied. (Analecten fiir vergleichende 

 Anatomie, von Dr. A. F. C. J. Mayer : Bonn, 1835, p. 95.) It would seera 

 that the name Menopoma owes its origin to the persistence of an oper- 

 culum, i. e. of a prolongation of the skin extending over the aperture on 

 the sides of the neck (from jieveiv, to remain, and Tvai^a, operculum). 

 As there is not any operculum properly so called, I think that the name 

 Cryptobranchus deserves to be retained, and that there is no necessity for 

 introducing a new name. Tritomer/as, proposed by the authors of the 

 'Erpetologie generale' (Dumeril et Bibron, 1854, ix. p. 153), even though 

 its actual composition were better than it is, would be inadmissible, as 

 having been previously cmj^loyed, though according to a very different 

 etymology, for a genus of Hemij)tera (Hist. Nat. des Insectes Hemiptercs, 

 by C. J. B. Amyot and Audinet-Serville : Paris, 1843, p. 98). 



f Cryptobranchus japonicus, ' Schediasraa anatomicum,' Vindobouae, 

 1865, 4to, p. 4. " Cum Menopomate affinitas tanto argumentorum pon- 

 dere vindicata fuit, ut nullae amplius circa banc qusestionem lites moveri 

 possint." 



