CONTRIBUTIONS TO PALEONTOLOGY. 297 



" Mr. Whiteaves stated that he was satisfied with the correctness of 

 the view Mr. Billings had taken," etc. " Principal Dawson deplored 

 the confusion that had arisen through conflicting views on the question 

 of nomenclature, and, agreeing with Mr. Billings in the conclusion he 

 had come to, stated that this communication was valuable, insomuch as 

 it cleared up a question that had been rendered obscure." * 



Thus fortified in the outset, Mr. B. starts off upon his argument, which, 

 could such a thing ever be suspected of this author, would have very 

 much the appearance and arrangement of a case of special pleadings. 

 He closes his article by a citation from a former one, recommending Mr. 

 Hall to treat the subject " in a clear and unsophisticated manner." 



We appreciate this appeal of Mr. Billings, and sympathize in his 

 dilemma, when, after appearing in several articles on this subject (in 

 none of which has he added anything to our knowledge of the matter), 

 he finds himself unable to present an " tmsopliisticated" view of the case, 

 he appeals to his opponent to come to his aid. We would endeavor to 

 oblige the courteous writer, but being just now very much engaged in 

 the study of the structure and relations of these fossils, we have less 

 time to discuss questions of nomenclature which have been for some time 

 settled in the minds of most naturalists. 



There are, however, one or two points which it may be well to take 

 notice of here; and however a writer may choose to disguise the facts, 

 they must necessarily become known to every investigator of fossils. The 

 generic name Athyris was given by Prof. M'Cox, in 1844 {Carboniferous 

 Fossils of Ireland^ p. 146); and under it are cited in the following order, 

 A. concentrica, A. decussata, A. depressa, A. expansa, A. finibriata, A. glahris- 

 tria, A.globularis, A. hispida, A. planosulcata, A. squamosa^ and A. (7) triloba. 

 These, with the exception of the last one, are retained by Mr. Davidson, 

 either as species or synonyms under the Genus Athyris. 



In 1847, D'Orbigny, objecting to the term Athyris on account of 

 its implying a zoological contradiction, proposed the name Spirigera ; 

 making it precisely equivalent to Athyris, and citing the same species 

 under it, including also others, but making ^S*. concentrica the typical 

 species. Let us cite here a rule, which is likewise cited by Mr. Billings : 



* I trust the gentlemen here referred to will not take offence at being thus cited by me : this is 

 neither my intent or animus. Whether or not it may have been in good taste to associate their 

 names in this manner with the article in the Am. Journal of Science, I do not undertake to decide. 

 Every one can appreciate the value of ojiinions expressed under such circumstances, where the 

 parties themselves have made no investigations of the matter, and accept without criticism the 

 statements of a writer or speaker. 

 Cab. Nat. 38 



