NOTE ON THE FISH GENERA NAMED MACKODON. By Theodore Gill, Honorary Assonate hi. Zoology. Having had occasion recently to consider a question rolati\c to the Scifenids, I found that Drs. Jordan and Evermann had adopted the name Sagen/chfhy.s of Berg (1805) for the genus called Ancijlodoi) h\ Cuvier (1817). No new name was necessary, however, as one had been given long before as a substitute. The facts should be made known now in order to avoid the continuance of improper usage. I. Ancylodon was used l)y Cuvier (1817) for a geiuis of Scia'uoid fishes and was generally adopted for that genus till 18!>5. It had, however, been used previously (1811) by Illiger for a genus of Ziphioid ceta-ceans. This was known to Dr. H. K. Schinz, the translator of the first edition of Cuvier\s Kegne Animal, and in his work (Das Thier-reich) published in 1822 he substituted (H, 482) the name " Die Gross-zahne, Xacrodnnr for '' Ancydodon, Cuv." or '^Ancylodour and in a footnote (H, 483) indicated "'Das Wort Ancylodoiu Hackenzahn. kann deswegen nicht gebraucht werden, well eine Walliischart so genannt wird. ^ Es o-ehort dahin: LoncInmiH anry/odon, Schncid." This is in every respect perfectly regular, but the fact has been universallv overlooked. n. MuTodon was used by Johannes Muller in 1842, in the Arch.v tur Anatomie, Phvsiologie [etc.], p. 308, for a genus of the tamdy ot Erythrinids (bV him associated with his family of Characins) and has been nniversal'lv retained for it ever since. The previous use of the name bv Schinz (in 1822), however, renders it untenable tor a late genus, and the one designated by Muller may receive the new i.mi^ PROCEEDINGS U.S National MUSEUM, VOL. XXVI-No. 1349. ^_^^_ Froc. N. M. vol. xxvi— 02 <^8
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