AMERICAN WAX BAYBERRIES 241 
type does the new name apply. When the author immediately 
after the name cites Gale, Tournefort, as its equivalent, "we 
seem compelled to regard Myrica Gale, Linn., as its type; but, 
yet, the very name Cerophora seems to contradict that; for 
the gale shrub is not wax-bearing. And the thought is con- 
tradicted again when, proceeding to the two subgenera of 
Cerophora he plainly makes our i American wax- 
bearing shrubs the typical subgenera 
There must then forever remain “two opinions as to the 
tenebility of Cerophora, Raf., and I find myself at accord with 
the author who has proposed the new name Cerothamnus.*” 
At this stage it would seem that there is a great deal of room 
for quibbling about the tenebility of Refinesque’s name in spite 
of the perplexing confusion of his types and names, and bota- 
nists might hope to assume or reject it with a certain show of 
reason, unless they do as Dr. Greene and Mr. Tidestrom have 
done, i. e., consider Cerophora as a confused doubtful applica- 
tion, and so reject it altogether on that account alone; for a 
publication of a name must be clear and beyond dede" of 
doubt. 
nd, however, that a fortunate circumstance comes to our 
assistance in unravelling the tangle, and solves the difficulty 
for all time as far as s Rafinesque’s name is concerned, so that 
there need not forever remain two opinions as to the tenebility 
of Cerophora; for the Cerophora, Raf., 1838, as a name 
any group of bay-berries is a homonym of over thirty years 
standing. In fact, what is more remarkable about the mat- 
__ tory of 1808* he had proposed the name for a new group of 
- — fungi, and the name had actually kotia into quotation in 
Steudel’ s Index 
Lb. 1638 not necessary to attempt to explain how Rafinesque, 
ho was forever eriticising his contemporaries for paing ho- 
ess he held in this case, as he was known to have done in 
ag similar instances, that an author of a name may change 
t will, or even replace it. I shall also leave it to the mycolo- 
s to determine what the first Cerophora may be, still it 
* not be amiss to give the short paragraph of Rafinesque 
ull, and let others judge as to the validity of Cerophora, 
808. 
rophora, (clavata, globosa, pyriformis, thamnioides, 
ma, fastigiata, minuta, etc.) is a fine new genus akin 
edical Repository, 2nd Hexade, Vol. V, p. 355, (1808). 
