No. 5.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 123 



conclusion, which I adopt, is that Antigone was really 

 non-existent when Reichenbach proposed it for Grus 

 torquata, and consequently for the allied species among 

 which is, in particular, the Australian Crane, Antigone 

 rubicunda ( = A. australasiana) , the type of the genus 

 Mathewsia Iredale. 



Note. — Mr. Mathews has generously handed me 

 Mr. Brasil's note for comment. 1 would point out that 

 the principle I followed has been generally accepted by 

 working scientists in most branches of science, and to 

 cite an instance in Ornithology I would quote the case of 

 Praticola Kaup, which though apparently a misprint 

 might be an emendation for Pratincola Koch. Whichever 

 it was it has been unanimously accepted as pre-occupying 

 Praticola Swainson, and the invalidity of the latter 

 name has ne^er been questioned. Further, American 

 ornithologists reject Athene on account of a prior Athena, 

 and I could easily multiply such instances. However, 

 my studies in conchology convinced me, as they did 

 most other students in the same science, that it is quite 

 impossible to guess whether a misspelling by Gray was 

 due to bad proof-reading or intention : if the latter be 

 admitted, then my action must be endorsed ; as we have 

 no means of now finding out with regard to the former, 

 we must simply accept Gray's written word, mistakes 

 and all included. This has been agreed to by working 

 conchologists in the case of Phytia. It is quite open to 

 argument that Gray deliberately intended his spelling 

 of Antigone to be an emendation of Schumacher's name : 

 in any case, if the opinions of the Nomenclatural Com- 

 mission be accepted, the correct transliteration of 

 Antigona would be Antigone, and Gray's action in thus 

 altering it would be endorsed. There is also the argu- 

 ment that Schumacher in the first instance misspelt 

 Antigona for Antigone, as is evident by his French 

 equivalent. All these points were carefully considered 

 before Mathewsia was proposed, and I have no doubt 

 that my action will be later accepted by all working 

 ornithologists. — Tom Iredale. 



