November 8, 1912] 



SCIENCE 



643 



plentiful, for seven individuals were found on 

 a space less than one yard square. They are 

 well preserved and, in the case of one at least, 

 the anatomy can be worked out in detail even 

 to the joints of the appendages. 



Apparently there are three distinct forms, 

 which probably represent as many species, and 

 at least two genera. If study substantiates the 

 belief that these are new, they will be de- 

 scribed at an early date. 



One is noticeably scorpioid in outline, due 

 to a rapid constriction beginning at the ninth 

 abdominal segment. At the sixth segment the 

 abdomen measures 10 mm. across, while at the 

 ninth it measures but half as much. The 

 cephalothorax measures 5 mm. in length, the 

 abdomen to the tip of the telson 23 mm., and 

 the telson alone 13 mm. The segments seem 

 to be destitute of ornamentations. Five ap- 

 pendages are exposed on one side and are dis- 

 tinct even to the individual joints, none of 

 which are chelate, and there is no paddle. 



Another form shows an abdomen expanding 

 slightly to the fourth segment and then con- 

 tracting and graduating insensibly into the 

 pointed telson. The eyes and markings of the 

 cephalothorax differ from the first-mentioned 

 form. The abdominal segments are plainly 

 ornamented by numerous and relatirely large 

 rounded prominences. 



In a third form, noticeably vermiform, the 

 slender abdomen tapers from the head shield 

 to the telson. The cephalothorax is ornamented 

 by two long and relatively broad genal spines 

 which sweep backward to the telson. Orna- 

 mentation seems to be wanting on the seg- 

 ments. One distinct paddle is exposed. This 

 small collection of seren Eurypterids was 

 made under difficulties. Later in the season 

 an unstable overhanging block of sandstone 

 will be blasted away and at once several square 

 yards of Eurypterid shales can be safely ex- 

 posed. The expectation is that a consider- 

 able collection will be secured, which when 

 properly studied will be figured and described 

 in a forthcoming number of the Nebraska 

 Geological Survey. 



This set of Eurypterids belongs to the col- 

 lections of Hon. Charles H. Morrill, who for 



so many years has been a liberal patron of 

 geological and paleontological research in Ne- 

 braska. 



Eewest H. Barbour 

 The UNrvERsiTT op Nebraska, 

 August, 1912 



SOME NECESSARY CHANGES IN CEPHALOPOD 

 NOMENCLATURE 



While recently engaged in unraveling the 

 somewhat tangled synonymy of certain cepha- 

 lopod mollusks, the writer has noted several 

 usages which are thought to be contrary to 

 accepted custom. It is the purpose of this 

 note to bring these items to the attention of 

 other investigators and thus perhaps avoid 

 further confusion in the future. 



The genus DesmoteutMs of Verrill (1881, 

 p. 300) has long been used for a group of 

 cranchiiform squids characterized by their 

 elongate, transparent, weakly pigmented body, 

 oval or elongate fins, and swollen, unstalked 

 eyes. Although an apparently well-established 

 genus, a careful inquiry shows the nomencla- 

 ture to be very involved and necessitates a 

 change in the prevailing terminology. Ver- 

 rill's genus when first advanced was mono- 

 typic and established to contain a member of 

 the former genus Taonius Steenstrup, which 

 he identified as T. hyperboreus Steenstrup. 

 According to Verrill's interpretation this 

 would then result in the following arrange- 

 ment. 



Taonius Steenstrup, 1861. Type Loligo pavo 

 Lesueur, 1821. Additional species LeacJiia 

 hyperhorea Steenstrup, 1856. 

 DesmoteutMs Verrill, Feb., 1-881. Type 

 Taonius hyperboreus Steenstrup. Addi- 

 tional species DesmoteutMs ienera Verrill, 

 Dec, 1881. 



So far well and good, but at the next step 

 a complication appears, for we then find that 

 DesmoteutMs hyperboreus " Steenstrup " Ver- 

 rill is not the same as Taonius hyperboreus 

 Steenstrup, being identical in fact (or so re- 

 garded by almost all subsequent authors) with 

 the true Taonius pavo. Indeed the diagnosis 

 originally given for DesmoteutMs does not fit 

 a single one of the various species now re- 



