30 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. VII 
few cases concerned. But in other groups, the matter is by no means simple, and every degree of 
similarity can be found. Thus the genus Cantherines is preceded by Acanthorhinus , a correct 
rendering of the same etymology; Canthiderniis by Acanthoderma, also a correct form of the 
same word; Thymallus is preceded by Thymalus , Lyopsetta by Liopsetta. Rafinesque changes 
Hiodon because it sounds too much like Diodon ; frachidermis has been altered on account of 
its resemblance to Tr achy derma, Ateleopus on account of its resemblance to Atelopus. 
“Between forms like Pachynathus, antedated by the correctly spelled PachygJiathus, and 
Aplodontia , antedated by the more correct Haplodon , and Aplodou, every sort of case may be 
found. If all names are regarded as different unless spelled alike, these matters offer no difficulty. 
Any other view gives no assurance of stability.” 
Although there are several other points of difference of a very minor nature, I shall close 
this short abstract with the following well-considered canon, a portion of which, as will be seen, 
departs considerably from present usage in ornithology and mammalogy. 
“Canon XXIX. The authority for a specific or subspecific name is the first describer of the 
species or subspecies. A name adopted from manuscripts should be ascribed to the person indi- 
cated as author in the original publication, whether this person be the author of the memoir in 
which the name occurs or not. * * * [Note] This canon deprecates the practice of ascrib- 
ing to the author of a paper descriptions and names furnished him in courtesy or otherwise by 
some other author. If a writer ascribes one of his species to some one else, we must take his 
word for it. Thus the manuscript species of Kuhl and VanHasselt in the Museum of Leyden, 
although printed bv Cuvier and Valenciennes, should be ascribed to Kuhl and Van Hasselt.” 
W. K. Fisher. 
EDITORIAL NOTES 
A LTHOUGH Tiie Condor can hardly be classed among “popular” journals (at least the 
business manager does not believe his accounts will justify such a view), nevertheless a 
word or two concerning the coming year may be of interest to club members. Our mag- 
azine corresponds to the “proceedings” of some scientific societies and consequently de- 
pends almost wholly upon the efforts of the club members. It is manifestly impossible, there- 
fore, to provide an array of special features in advance, nor is it at all desirable to do so. The 
special features always depend upon the efforts of the editor and in so far as they occupy the body 
of the magazine they crowd out contributed material. There is an element of danger also, that 
if too much is provided in advance the members may tend to lose their sense of responsibility. 
During the past two years we have published a number of portraits of American ornitholog- 
ists. The series has been very incomplete, in some cases because we could not secure the 
necessary photographs and consent, but mostly on acconnt of scarcity of room and funds. As 
noted on another page this series will be discontinued for the present. Beginning with the 
March-April issue we will commence a similar series of portraits of eminent European ornitholo- 
gists, publishing from two to four photographs in each number. So far as we are aware this has 
never been attempted before. It should prove a feature of exceptional value to everyone inter- 
ested in the personal and historical sides of ornithology. In an early issue, also, will appear a 
facsimile page of manuscript from the pen of Prince Charles Lucian Bonaparte. Mr. Emerson will 
relate something concerning its history and the rather dramatic manner in which it came to light. 
Inasmuch as it is well-nigh impossible to prognosticate just what the coming year has in 
store for the readers of The Condor, the contents of this volume upon which we are now enter- 
ing must be gauged largely by the standard of that just completed. So far as the name of an 
author is an index to the standard — and it is a good index we believe — we take pleasure in an- 
nouncing in advance the following contributors to volume seven: Florence Merriam Bailey, 
Vernon Bailey, Lyman Belding, Herman T. Bolilman, Herbert Brown, William Lovell Finley, A. 
K. Fisher, Louis Agassis Fuertes, Joseph Grinnell, Rev. S. H. Goodwin, Henry B. Kaeding, 
Leverett Mills Loomis, Joseph Mailliard, Edgar A. Mearns, E. W. Nelson, Harry C. Oberholser, 
Wilfred H. Osgood, William W. Price, P. M. Silloway. 
As a special message to members of the club let us again remind them that the interest and 
value of a publication such as The Condor must always depend upon the representative charact- 
