Miscellaneous. 425 
The question then arises, Shall we apply to Linneeus himself the 
canons of nomenclature which would be rigorously enforced were 
the claims of his successors in question? It is with a view to 
obtaining the opinions of those who are expert in these matters 
that we present below a full synopsis of the literature bearing upon 
the questions at issue. 
The facts in this case have doubtless been fully unearthed by 
many investigators; but, probably believing it best to “let sleeping 
dogs rest,” no one* has to my knowledge seriously raised the 
questions to which I desire now to direct attention. 
The genus T'ethys was founded by Linné in the tenth edition of 
the ‘Systema Nature,’ p. 653, for two species, thus :— 
“254. Treruys. Corpus oblongum, bilabiarum: corpusculo medio 
cartilagineo oblongo. Zentacula duo, cuneiforma, Foramina duo, 
spirantia. 
“Jimacina 1. T. auriculis quatuor. 
“* Habitat in Oceano Australi. 
* Corpus oblongum, antice quasi 4 auriculis acutis instructum. 
“leporina, 2. T. corpore rubro, margine membranaceo, auriculis 
duobus. : 
“Ta] Rond. pise. 1. p. 520. Lepus marinus. 
“Tb| Bell. aquat. 437. Lepus marinus. 
“lc| Gesn. aquat. 475. Lepus marinus, Aldr. exsangu. 78. 
Lepus marinus 1. 
“ Habitat in M. Mediterraneo. 
“ Conf. Column. aqu. t. 26, f. 2, 3.” 
It will be noticed that the above description of limacina contains 
nothing diagnostic of a species, though the genus is clearly indi- 
cated. As Linné gives us no reference to earlier writers, we have 
absolutely no means of learning what Z'ethys limacina is, and the 
name must be dropped. 
In the case of leporina, Linné gives ample references to the sources 
whence his information was derived. These we analyze as follows :-— 
{a} Gulielmi Rondeletii, etc., Libri de Piscibus Marinis, ete. (1554), 
Liber xvii. p, 520, figures an Aplysia which seems to be the 
A, fasciata of authors (for it lacks the conspicuous shell-foramen 
of depilans and the broadly united parapodia of punctata). [b] La 
Nature & diversité des poissons, avec leurs pourtraicts, representez 
au plus pres du naturel, par Pierre Belon du Mans (Paris, 1555), 
p- 437, seems to be an undeterminable species of “ Lievre Marin” 
from the Cyclades, known to Belon through the ancient authors 
only. {c] Conradi Gesneri medici Tigurini Historie Animalium, 
Liber III. qui est de Piscium & Aquatilium Animantium natura 
(1558), p. 561 (Linné wrongly gives 475 as the page). A reversed 
copy of Rondelet’s figure is given, Gesner’s information being wholly 
second hand. [d] Ulyssis Aldroyandi ete., De Reliquis Animalibus 
* Except R. Bergh, who in Mal. Unters. i. p. 33, in Semper’s ‘ Reisen,’ 
2ter Theil, has made the bald statement that Linnzeus’s earlier Tethys 
was an Aplysia, but who continues to use Tethys for the Nudibranch. 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 6. Vol. xvi. 30 
