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THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. XLII 



that of northern Japan — two new species, both of Porocottus, 

 are described and figured. 



In the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Science of 

 Philadelphia, Volume 59, 1908, Mr. Henry W. Fowler describes 

 a collection of fishes from Melbourne. Among these is a new 

 Chimasra, Eydrolagus ivaitei, for which a new subgenus, 

 Psychichthys, is proposed. In the course of the paper a number 

 of new subgenera are added to the already long list of genera 

 of doubtful value. 



In the same Proceedings Mr. Fowler has a catalogue of the 

 lancelets and lampreys contained in the collection of the Acad- 

 emy of Sciences. A new genus and species, Oceanomyzon 

 wilsoni, is described from the open Atlantic. Lampetra cepytera 

 (Abbott) is said to be identical with Lampetra wilderi, the 

 common black lamprey of Cayuga Lake. The name Lampetra 

 wpytera has priority. 



In the same Proceedings for 1906 Mr. Fowler describes new 

 and little-known percoid fishes. He uses the name Dules in 

 place of Kuhlia, and describes a new subgenus, Boulengerina, 

 for Kuhlia malo, this group being based on the numerous gill- 

 rakers. Some changes of nomenclature are made, based on the 

 adoption of the rule that the first species mentioned in any 

 genus shall become the type. This rule, which would have been 

 just if it could have been originated earlier, will not be accepted 

 by naturalists, as the International Congress has taken the view 

 that in case a type is not fixed by the original author the writer 

 following has a right to fix it, and once established it shall not 

 be changed for any reason. The subgenus Astrapogon is sug- 

 gested for Apogonichthys stellatus, characterized by the very 

 long ventrals. 



In the same Proceedings Mr. Fowler discusses the hetero- 

 gnathous fishes in the museum at Philadelphia, with descriptions 

 and figures of many of these. Several new species are de- 

 scribed, and a number of new generic and subgeneric names 

 suggested. 



These papers are subjected to critical review in the American 

 Naturalist, Volume 41, by Dr. C. H. Eigenmann. Dr. Eigen- 

 mann claims that many of the new names proposed by Mr. 

 Fowler are quite unnecessary. He says : 



We must feel grateful to Dr. Fowler for his labor. But it is to be 



