MAMMALIA. 
33 
belong to the family of Insectivores. The author rejects not 
only the name Potamogale given by Du Chaillu, but also that 
of Mythomys proposed by Gray, because it is not a member of 
the Murine tribe ; and adds, unfortunately, a third to the syno- 
nymy, viz., that of Bayonia, He gives a detailed description of 
the zoological and anatomical characters, figuring the animal, 
skull, and other parts of the skeleton, and regards it as the type 
of a distinct group of Insectivores, allied to Solenodon and 
Sorex, He fixes the generic characters thus : — 
Rostrum productum, rotimdatum, depressiim* rliinarium minimum, nu- 
dum, bifidum ; oculi parvi ; auriculae prominulae, rotundatae, pilosae ; pedes 
ambulatorii plantigradi, pentadactyli, posteriores syndactyli, digitis 2" et 3® 
usque ad basin plialangis tertiae coadimatis ; ungues falciilares; cauda longa, 
alta, compressa, dimidio apicali compressissima, in acumen desinens. Mam- 
mae iiropygii duae. Cranium arcu zygoniatico nullo, bulla ossea oblonga, 
distincta, osse tympanico annulari. Claviculao nullae. Ossa antebrachii 
sejuncta. Ossa cruris connata. Dentes quadraginta, den tibus Solenodon tis, 
quoad numerum, formam ac dispositionem, valde similes 
^1:2 -L _L 
V4.3 i 4 1 3.4/* 
Haemal arches, articulating with the intervals of the caudal vertebrae, are 
much developed. 
''^Dr. Gray, in a letter directed to Prof. Allman (who is engaged 
in a jniblication on this animal), wishes him to reconsider the 
question whether tlie name Potamogale given by Du Chaillu 
has any claim to be adopted. He persists in rejecting it, on 
account of the incorrectness of Du Chaillu^s notes on the animal. 
Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1865, xvi. p. 426. 
We fully agree with Dr. Gray as regards the principle on 
which he objects to the name Potamogale. If we commence to 
introduce names into the system given at random by inex- 
perienced amateurs or popular writers, or names unaccompanied 
by such a diagnosis that the object can be recognized by the 
scientific zoologist, we consent to be constantly exposed to the 
danger not only of sharing the reward for our labours with men 
who do not deserve it (which is a matter of minor considera- 
tion and of too frequent occurrence), but to add to the multi- 
plication of names which is getting more and more burdensome. 
For this reason Dr. Gray might have been justified in ignoring 
Du Chailliris account altogether ; but since he has adopted the 
specific name of velox, given by Du Chaillu at the same time, 
and as in this case the generic and specific names refer to the 
same individual specimen, succeeding naturalists have no other 
choice but to recognize or to reject both alike. 
'^Potamogale is referred by Prof. Peters to the Centetina, Monatsber. Akad. 
Wiss. Berlin, 18G5, p. 286. 
X Briculus (Geoffr.) and BchinonaU (Wngn.) are referred to the Centetina 
1865. [voL. II.] D 
