98 Bvlletin of Zoological Nomenclature phius, Taphius and Tropicorbis should be united into a single genus, then I strongly support Dr. C. A. Wright's application. My reasons for this are : (1) That the persons most concerned with these gastropods are the workers on schistosomiasis ; (2) that Taphitis, Planorbina and Armigerus are names rarely used and not generally accepted ; (3) that Biomphalaria is the most widely accepted and extensively used name. By Emile A. Malek (Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.) I am writing in support of Dr. C. A. Wright's application to suppress the generic name Planorbina Haldeman, 1842, Taphius Adams & Adams, 1855, and Armigerus Clessin, 1884, I am also in favour of his request to place the genus Biomphalaria Preston, 1910, on the Official List of Generic Names. This I believe will eliminate the great confusion which exists at present in the generic nomenclature of the inter-mediate hosts of Schistoso)7ia mansoni. The case in favour of adopting Biomphalaria has been clearly presented by Barbosa et al [Ami. Mag. nat. Hist. 1961). It seems that Biomphalaria is the most appropriate name for the group comprising the following congeneric forms : Attstralorbis, Biomphalaria, Platytaphius, Taphius, Tropicorbis, Armigerus and Planorbina. By F. S. Barbosa (University of Recife, Brazil) It is well known that the Planorbid snaUs which are actual or potential vectors of the Trematode Schistosotria mansoni in both continents (Africa and America) are generically indistinguishable. During the last ten years I have been dealing with malacological aspects of Bilharziasis and some of this work has been directed towards the taxonomy of the snail vectors. Although recognizing that the genera Taphius H. & A. Adams, 1855 ; Biompha-laria Preston, 1910 ; Tropicorbis Pilsbry & Brown, 1914 ; Platytaphius Pilsbry, 1924 and Australorbis Pilsbry, 1934, are congeneric I have been conservative in using the old generic names untU a decision of the Commission. Besides the above genera, Planorbina Haldeman, 1842 stands as probably the oldest generic name to be applied to the group of snails under question. Now, however, when a final decision is to be taken by the Commission I am convinced that the suggestion proposed by Dr. C. A. Wright in supporting Biompha-laria is the most judicious by the reasons already exposed by him. I express my full support for Dr. Wright's application in asking the Commission to place Biomphalaria on the Official List of Generic Names, suppressing the other generic names. Papers by Dr. F. S. Barbosa dealing with the problem : Barbosa, F. S., 1958. The snail hosts oi Schistosoma mansoni and transmission of schistosomiasis in Brazil. XVth International Congress of Zoology, Sect. VIII, paper 18, London Barbosa F. S. and Cameiro, E., 1959. Moluscos Africanos e Sul Americanos da Tribo Biomphalaria (Planorbidae). Actas y Trabajos del Primer Congreso Sudamericano de Zoologia. Tomo II, Buenos Aires Barbosa F. S., 1960. Proven and Potential Vectors of the Trematode Schistosoma matisoni in South America. {Rev. Brasil Biol. 20{2) : 183-190) REPLY TO H. J. WALTER'S OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSAL TO SUPPRESS PLANORBINA HALDEIMAN, 1842, TAPHIUS ADAMS AND ADAMS, 1853, AND ARMIGERUS CLESSIN, 1884 By C. A. Wright (British Museum (Natural History), London Walter's objections to my application appear to be based on the assumption that I have no experience of the problem and on certain technical features which are not
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