192 AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 
tuberculata obesa as a valid subspieces, it is highly objectionable 
to “transfer the name of a variety to the main species.’” Dall? 
also states that ‘“‘a valid varietal name is not a synonym” and 
that if valid, the subspecies obesa must stand. 
Quadrula Parkeri Geiser, 1911, The Academician I: 15. 
Synonymy discussed, new name applied, and reference made 
to type icon (Upper Iowa Collegion XXVII: 50, fig. 7, [1909]). The 
description was also reprinted in Upper Iowa Collegian XXIX(1): 
3-4, [1911.] 
Briefly, then to recapitulate. The species in question is not 
an Unio, and hence the original combinations can not be paplied. 
Neither is the species to be included in the pseudogenus Tritogoma, 
for, as has been shown, this ‘“‘ genus”’ has no standing. The anatomy 
of this species includes it in the genus Quadrula. However, both 
Quadrula tuberculata and Quadrula verrucosa would be homonyms 
to previously established combinations. Unio pustulata Swainson, 
1840, is stillborn, and even if transferred to Quadrula would also 
be preoccupied by Quadrula pustulata (Lea) Simpson. It is ex- 
tremely doubtful if Unio gigas Sowerby, 1867, was ever applied 
to a Tritogonia tuberculata. Vanatta’s name si objectionable since 
he has used valid subspecific name for the main species. It appears, 
then, that all the synonyms enumerated by Simpson are inappli- 
cable, and that Quadrula Parkeri must stand as the correct name 
-or this species, unless some other synonym exists which has 
escaped my notice. 
Dr. A. FE. Ortmann and Mr. Edgar A. Smith object to the 
invalidation of generic transferrences because an author has 
previously erroneously transferred a similar specific name to that 
genus. As show under nomen 3, however, if we were not to insist 
upon a strict observance of the rules governing homonyms, endless 
confusion would be caused. For example, if we would permi 
the use of Quadrula tuberculata (Barnes) Ortmann, 1911, there 
would be a cause continually for confusion with Quadrula tuber- 
culata (Raf.) Simpson, 1900. We must, therrfore, treat these generic 
transferrences exactly as original names, in order to avoid endless 
confusion. The law of priority, though perhaps seemingly unjust 
1 Ortman in. lit.. 
2 Dall in lit.. 
a 
