242 GEORGE H. GIRTY 



(probably) in Illinois. It is the latter form which von Staff cites 

 as Girtyina ventricosa, without recognizing the fact that the original 

 variety ventricosa was a much larger and less ventricose^ form and 

 not improbably a different species. This inference, based on in- 

 trinsic characters, is verified by the fact that von Staff recognizes 

 G. ventricosa only from Illinois, although having a full series of 

 Kansas specimens in his hands for identification. G. ventricosa 

 von Staff, therefore, is almost certainly a distinct species from F. 

 cylindrica var. ventricosa Meek and Hayden, which is, on the other 

 hand, possibly the same as von Staff's F. secalica. 



The gentle author has considerable to say about my proposed 

 genus Triticites, of which he disapproves in emphatic language 

 and liberal exclamation points, some of which might have been 

 saved if he had fully understood the statements which he was 

 criticizing. The studies of special investigators have, indeed, mini- 

 mized the differences on which Triticites was separated from Fusu- 

 lina, but it was regrettably heedless for von Staff, after condemning 

 Triticites, to turn around and propose the new subgenus Schell- 

 wienia and at the same time to include in Schellwienia the type 

 species of Triticites, T. secalicus. If a new name is needed for tlie 

 group in question Triticites clearly should be employed. 



Even if, however, one adopts the classification proposed by von 

 Staff, which I think few will do, a new name is not needed here. 

 He proposes to include both Fusulina and Schwagerina as sub- 

 genera in a single group which he regards as forming one genus 

 and for which he retains the name Fusulina. It is for Fusulina 

 in the old and strict sense that Schellwienia is introduced. This 

 seems to me comparable to Hyatt's course in using Goniatites as a 

 general term and introducing Glyphioceras for Goniatites ss., and 

 it is equally inadmissible. If the author regards Schwagerina as a 

 subgenus of Fusulina, the proper course is to retain Fusulina ss, 

 as the name for the companion group. From the present evidence 

 Schellwienia is a synonym of Triticites, and Triticites of Fusulina 

 ss., a name which must be retained in a subgeneric sense even if 

 von Staff's classification is adopted. 



' Meek gives the length as \ inch (13 mm.) and the diameter as fo inch. This 

 makes the ratio of course 2.5:1. Girtyina ventricosa is described as having an axial 

 length of at most 5 mm. and the ratio as i . 7 : i . 



