1884] ~ Editors Table. 907 
have not been, in our opinion, so happy. We note four such 
which have not been generally adopted, though they have advo- 
cates in some quarters: (Firs?) The type of a genus shall be the 
species which stands first on the list made by the original de- 
scriber. This method has been generally discarded, and the law 
of exclusion been adopted in its stead. That is, the species 
remaining after others have been subtracted as representing new 
genera, bears the earliest generic name. (Second) When an exist- 
ing specific name has been used for a genus, the same name shall 
continue to be used for the species instead of a new one. There 
result from this method such names as Sialia sialis, Mephitis 
mephitica, Calamus calamus, Scomber scomber, etc. It would 
seem superfluous to object to such names were it not that they 
have advocates. Dr. Lydekker’s assertion that they are “ ridicu- 
lous” seems to us to cover the ground. We know of no argu- 
ment in their favor. (Zkird) Any generic name which is attached 
to the description of a species shall be regarded as the generic 
name of that and other congeneric species, whether-such genus 
has been defined or not. This proposition has been negatived by 
the almost entire vote of American naturalists who responded to 
the circulars of the Dall committee on nomenclature of the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science for 1877. 
Nevertheless some American naturalists adopt such nomina nuda. 
(Fourth) That a name once used cannot be used again, though it 
be an evident synonym. To discard a name because it may be 
found in some list of synonyms seems to us to be increasing 
rather than diminishing confusion. To put the present system of 
nomenclature through a process of renovation such as this propo- 
sition requires, would be impracticable. Hence we disapprove of 
i Such names as Zapus, Amphisaurus, etc. 
We add a consideration respecting the adoption of the names 
of higher groups, as families, orders, etc. We propose the fol- 
lowing rules as agreeing most nearly with present practice, and 
ns fulfilling most nearly the object of all rules, the securing of 
Justice to persons concerned. We propose that names of all 
divisions higher than genera : 
1. Be only adopted when accompanied by a definition. 
_ F That they be preserved for the division for which their orig- 
inal proposers intended them as nearly as possible. 
Note.—What their proposers intended them for can as often 
