246 PALMONTOLOGY OF NEW YORK. 



1882. Streptorhynchus, Whitfield. Geolog'V of Wisconsin, vol. iv, p. 261, pi. xii, tig-.=. 9, 10; p. 263, 



pi. xii, figs. 11-13. 



1883. Strophomena, Davidson. Bi-itish Silurian Bi-ac-hiopoda, Supplement, p. 192, pi. xi, figs. 20, 21 ; 



pi. xii, fig. 30 ; pi. xvi, fig. 8. 



1883. StreptorkyucJius, Hall. Second Ann. Rept. State Geologist N. Y., Expl., p\. xxxix, figs. 1-9, 



15-30; pi. xlii, figs. 10-15. 



1884. /Streptorhynchus, Walcott. Palaeontology Eureka District, p. 75, pi. xi, fig. 9. 

 1887. Strophomeim, Shaler. Memoirs Kentucky Geological Survey, p. 13, plates 4 and 5. 



Probably no generic term among the brachiopoda has given rise to a greater 

 diversity of expression of opinion among authors as to its value and applica- 

 tion. In order to appreciate the inapplicability of the term as now current 

 among the American and European writers, a brief resume of its history be- 

 comes necessary. 



In 1820, C. S. Rafinesque made use of the term Strophomenes in the Annales 

 Generales des Sciences Physiques de Bruxelles, vol. v, p. 232.* This name was 

 not accompanied either by a diagnosis or the citation of any species. The 

 author, after speaking of the difficulties experienced in working out certain 

 groups, says : 



" Par exemple, parmi les terebratules, nous en avons observL- plus de 60 

 especes, que nous avons dii ranger sous plusieurs nouveaux genres, tels que 

 gonoirema, dictionia, dirJisma, pleurinia, stropheria, strophomenes, clipsilis, etc., outre 

 les vrais genres terehratula et produdus. Le seul G. gonotrema, qui comprend 

 les terebratules a ouverture anguleuse ailongee et a charniere tronquee, etc., 

 contient plus de 30 especes." 



The term Strophomenes, Rafinesque, was afterwards used by Defrance, in 

 1824, also without definition, in the "Tableau des Corps Organises Fossiles," 

 p. 6. In 1825, DE BLAiNViLLEf made use of the term Strophomena, in the fol- 

 lowing manner : 



" Strophomene. Strophomena. — Animal tout-a-fait inconnu. Coquille regu- 

 liere symetrique, equilaterale, subequivalve ; une valve plate et 1' autre un peu 

 excavee ; articulation droite, transverse, ofFrant a droit et a gauche d'une 



* This papei- does not appear in tlie " Complete Wiitings of Constantine Smaltz Rafinesque on Recent 

 and Fossil Conchology," edited by William G. Binnbt and George W. Trton, Jr. 1864. As the original 

 paper has not been accessible, we are under obligations to Di'. H. A. Pilsby, of the Conchological Section 

 of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science, for communicating the quotation given. 



t Manuel de Malacologie et Conchyliologie, vol. i, p. 513, jil. liii, tigs. 2, 2a. 



