46 
Art. 34. A generic name is to be rejected as a homonym when it 
has previously been used for some other genus® of animals. Example: 
Trichina Owen, 1835, nematode, is rejected as homonym of Trichina 
Meigen, 1830, insect. 
Discussion. — This plan of rejecting a name on the ground that it 
has been used for some other genus has met with opposition from sev- 
eral sources, but though it may at lirst appear Draconian, it seems 
necessary. If identical generic names were accepted in different 
groups, on the ground that a protozoon would not be likely to be 
confused with a worm or an insect, we might be brought to a very 
involved position. Imagine, for instance, the lucidity of an article on 
the relation of zoology to medicine in which were discussed Disioma a 
as a protozoon, Distoma h as a medicinal sponge, Distoma c as a trem- 
atode, Distoma cl as a tapeworm, Distoma e as a nematode, Distoma f 
as a thorn-headed worm, Distoma g as a mite, Distoma A as a mosquito, 
and Distoma i as a poisonous snake. Any code of nomenclature which 
would make such a condition theoretically possible would bring about 
the very confusion which nomenclature seeks to avoid. 
Protest has been raised against rejecting Trichina , 1835, as generic 
name of Trichina spiralis; that this rejection is unfortunate may be 
readil} 7 admitted, but with an earlier insect genus named Trichina , 
1830, zoologists can hardly be expected to admit Trichina as valid 
name for a nematode genus. 
Mallory proposed Cyclaster , 1904, as generic name for the organism 
which he found in a case of scarlet fever, but as this same name was 
a Besides the special journals and special nomenclators of various groups, authors 
will find the following publications very valuable in determining whether any given 
generic or supergeneric name is preoccupied, and if authors will consult these works 
before publishing new names, considerable confusion and later change of names will 
be avoided: 
C. D. Sherborn, Index animcdium sive index nominum qiize ab A. D. 1758, generibus et 
speciebus animalium imposita sunt. Societatibus eruditorum adiuvantibus a Carolo Davis 
Sherborn confectus. Sectio la kalendis januariis, 1758, usque ad jinem decembris , 1800. 
Cantabrigke, 1902, 8°. 
S. H. Scudder, Nomenclator zoologicus. An alphabetical list of all generic names that 
have been employed by naturalists for recent and fossil animals from the earliest times to 
the close of the year 1879. In 2 parts: 1. Supplemental list. II. Universal index. 
Washington, 1882, 8°. 
C. 0. Waterhouse, Index zoologicus. An alphabetical list of names of genera and sub- 
genera proposed for use in zoology as recorded, in the Zoological Record, 1880-1900, together 
until other names not included in the Nomenclator zoologicus of S. H. Scudder. Compiled 
. . . by Charles Owen Waterhouse and edited by David Sharp. London, 1902, 8°. 
The Zoological Record, XXXVIII [et sequ.]. Being records of zoological literature 
relating chiefly to the year 1901 [e t sequ.]. London, 1902 [et sequ.], 8°. Index to 
names of new genera and subgenera. 
Register zum zoologischen Anzeiger. Herausgegeben von J. V. Carus, Jahrgang 1-10 
(1878-1887), 11-15 (1888-1892), 16-20 (1893-1897), 21-25 (1898-1902). Leipzig, 
1889, 1893, 1899, 1903, 8°. 
