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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVI. No. C68 



merous keys, fine bibliography and list of 

 localities in Japan, the Riu Kiu Archipelago 

 and Formosa (with their synonyms) arranged 

 in the form of a consulting and descriptive 

 Ust, should be of much value to all students 

 of herpetolog-y. 



In his enumeration of species Dr. Stejneger 

 shows us that 50 species of amphibians are to 

 be found in Japan and adjacent territory. 

 Of the order Caudata (salamanders and 

 newts) there are 13 species. The Salientia 

 (order of frogs and toads) is represented by 

 37 species. Seventeen species of Sana (genus 

 of typical frogs) occur in the territory treated. 

 The reptiles are elaborately represented, 

 though the serpents greatly predominate in 

 number of species. The lizards occur to the 

 number of 29 species — these the members of 

 15 genera. Sixty-one species of snakes are 

 enumerated, representing 26 genera. Among 

 the serpents are 25 poisonous species, which 

 are the members of 13 genera. A m ong the 

 venomous snakes the members of 6 genera and 

 to the number of 13 species are marine or 

 the inhabitants of bays or the mouths of the 

 larger rivers. The author's treatment of the 

 strictly aquatic snakes — the Hydrinse — is par- 

 ticularly interesting in adding to knowl- 

 edge relating to the distribution of these rep- 

 tiles. Of the order of turtles and tortoises 11 

 genera are quoted and 14 species described as 

 inhabitants of the area involved. 



While Dr. Stejneger's work is uniformly 

 valuable to the herpetologist there is a tend- 

 ency throughout to alter the nomenclature of 

 families and genera. The author explains : 



With regard to the nomenclature of families, 

 genera and species, the author adheres strictly 

 to the " International Rules of Zoological Nomen- 

 clature " adopted by the International Congresses 

 of Zoology. Changes in nomenclature necessitated 

 by these rules, therefore, must not be laid to any 

 desire of the author to alter names, but to the 

 necessity of conforming strictly to the laws now 

 generally accepted by the working zoologists of 

 the world. 



To the writer of this review it seems that 

 the laws mentioned should have some limita- 

 tion. This search for " priority " by technical 

 students is discouraging many young students 



of zoology, who, after mastering various scien- 

 tific names in works that have supposedly 

 brought them strictly up-to-date, find in sub- 

 sequent works an imposing array of un- 

 familiar titles. The adjustment of " priority " 

 appears to be as remotely distant as ever: for 

 with the greater number of scientific works 

 appearing we find suggestions by the authors 

 as to sweeping changes in nomenclature. It 

 seems a pity to batter down names that have 

 for years been generally accepted. Few 

 zoologists are much benefited by perusing ex- 

 haustive lists of synonyms and the prepara- 

 tion and study of these must detract from 

 actual observations of the subjects involved. 



Among long-standing names that have 

 fallen by Dr. Stejneger's decisions is the term 

 for a great class — the Batrachia. This, the 

 author explains, is a synonym pure and 

 simple of the much older term Salientia, 

 standing for the order of frogs and toads. 

 That these changes in nomenclature are dif- 

 ficult to follow is in evidence from the cover 

 of Dr. Stejneger's publication where the 

 author's title is given " Curator, Division of 

 Reptiles and Batrachians," while to be strictly 

 up-to-date and correct, as pointed out in the 

 text, it should be " Curator, Division of Rep- 

 tiles and Amphibians." Among other changes 

 in nomenclature might be mentioned the well- 

 established genus of snakes Coluber — changed 

 to Elaphe, and, as an instance that is liable 

 to bring about some confusion, the use of the 

 term Coluber in place of Pelias among the 

 vipers. Also, according to the author, the 

 family term Viperidse must go. A new name, 

 the Cobridse, is substituted for it. Dr. 

 Stejneger arranges in the family Elapidse the 

 subfamilies Elapins and Hydrinie (Hydro- 

 phinse). It appears inconsistent to follow this 

 arrangement with the designation of the 

 Cobridse (Viperidse) and the Crotalidae as dis- 

 tinct families. 



To the strictly technical worker these dis- 

 cussions and changes in nomenclature are 

 barely confusing — and may be of considerable 

 interest. They certainly show a great amount 

 of thought and work on the part of the author. 

 To the less advanced student, however, the 

 new terms appear formidable, set former 



