JUKES-BROWNE : ON SOME QUESTIONS OF NOMENCLATURE. 99 



Dr. Ball's proviso just indicates the point that requires to be 

 settled ; it may have become the common practice, and it may be a 

 reasonable practice, but the principle involved has not been definitely 

 accepted by any general committee or congress of delegates from the 

 principal societies either in America or this country. Until it has 

 been discussed and settled by such a congress in one or both coun- 

 tries, it is open to any individual or society to dispute Dr. Ball's 

 opinion and to refuse acceptance of Bolten's genera. Indeed, it is 

 only of recent years that Br. Ball has been of this opinion, for up 

 till 1898 he refused to use Bolten's naiiies, though F. B. Meek had 

 adopted them in 1876. 



I am informed by Br. von Maehrenthal that he would consider the 

 catalogues of Bolten and Morch as "publications" according to the 

 rules of the German Zoological Society, and would regard the names 

 proposed by them as properly introduced into the Linnean nomen- 

 clature, if they are accompanied by sufficient definitions or "indica- 

 tions." He adds that as some of the Bolten names are accepted by 

 German conchologists it would be illogical to make any exceptions in 

 favour of other better-known names. He admits, however, that the 

 International Zoological Congress has not yet adopted any definition 

 of what constitutes "publication." Further, some names may have a 

 sufficient indication and some may not, so that each case must be 

 decided on its own merits. 



The admission of Bolten's names would lead to the displacement 

 of many now in use, and it is consequently very desirable that this 

 question should be authoritatively settled as soon as possible. The 

 following are some well-known names which will have to give place 

 to Bolten's, if his authority and priority are admitted, and if the 

 figures to which he refers are clearly recognisable : — 



Fleurotoma will become Turris. 



Fasciolaria „ „ Coins. 



Melongetia „ „ Galeodes, 



Fulgur „ „ Busy con. 



Turbinella ,, „ Xencus. 



Cynodonta „ ,, Vasutn. 



Oniscia ,, ,, Morum. 



Ratiella „ ,, Bursa. 



Solarhwi ,, ,, Architectonica. 



Scalaria ,, ,, Epitonmin. 



Cordis „ ,, Gafrarium. 



Lithophaga „ „ Lithodomiis. 



The next point to which attention may be called is the care with 

 which any of the older writers should be studied before any of their 



