1908.] Allen, Mammalogical Notes. 589 



clature by Erxleben, as Mustela galera; it was later (1826) renamed by F. 

 Cuvier Atilax vansire, and is now currently known as Herpestes galera 

 (Erxl.), the Water Mungoose. If, therefore, Galera Browne be tenable 

 from his second edition (1789) it must replace Herpestes Illiger, 1811, now 

 used for the Mungooses. In any case it has nothing whatever to do with the 

 Tayras of tropical America. As, however, Mustela barbara Linn, has 

 repeatedly been treated as the type of Galera, a word on this point seems 

 necessary. 



Article 30 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature rules 

 that "Species which were species inquirendas from the standpoint of the 

 author of the generic name at the time of its publication" "are excluded 

 from consideration in selecting the types of genera." Therefore the en- 

 graved name "Mustela barbara ?" on plate 49 of the second (1789) edition 

 of Browne's work does not render this species available as the type of Galera] 

 nor will the designation of this species as the type of Galera by Gray in 1843 

 avail, in face of the fact that the Galera of Browne was a Mungoose and 

 not a Tayra. Therefore Galera Gray, 1843 (nee Browne) = Tayra Oken, 

 1816; while Galera Browne, 1789 (type Mustela galera Erxl.) = Atilax F. 

 Cuv. 1826 = Herpestes Illiger, 1811. 



