26 Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature APPLICATION FOR CORRECTION OF CERTAIN NAMES ON THE OFFICIAL LIST OF FAMILY-GROUP NAMES IN ZOOLOGY. Z.N.(S.) 1965 By George C. Steyskal {Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, c/o U.S. National Museum, Washington D.C. 20560) 1 . Eight names on the Official List of Family-Group Names in Zoology are formed contrarily to the rules stated in Article 29 of the Code, viz., Names nos. 61, 108, 139, 199, 207, 213, 324 and 428 (all up to the end of the year 1970, including publication in the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature through volume 27). No application for a ruhng on the form of these family-group names had been made in any of the cases in which the placing of the name on the Official List was one result. Indeed, the late Secretary Hemming stated in connection with Opinion 500 (dealing with Name no. 206) that that case was the first concerning the formation of a family name to come before the Com-mission. 2. It must be considered axiomatic that an adopted rule is to be followed unless there is good reason and need for its suspension in any particular case. At least the facts of the case and the reasons for suspension of the rules, how-ever such action may be initiated, should be brought to the attention of zoologists, as are other matters dealt with in applications to the Commission. Should any zoologist feel that a suspension of the rules stated in Article 29 of the Code is desirable in the case of any particular name dealt with in this application, it would be in order for him to apply to the Commission for such action. The established procedure could then ensue, as for example in the case of PiERiDAE vs. pierididae (Official List Name No. 206), and due and orderly consideration could be given to the problem. 3. The names in question, details concerning them, and requested correc-tions are as follows. Bibliographic details may be found in the Directions and Opinions cited in the Official List. No. 61 (Direction 28), gyropidae Kellogg, 1896; based upon the genus name Gyropus Nitzsch, 1818 (Class Insecta, Order Mallophaga). Nitzsch on page 282 of the work wherein he proposes Gyropus, cites a German vernacular name "Sprenkelfuss" for his genus, which may therefore be considered as derived from Greek gyros or gyros + pous Toot'. In-asmuch as the stem of pous is pod-, the family name should be corrected to GYROPODIDAE. No. 108 (Direction 53), otocyonidae Trouessart, 1885; based upon the genus name Otocyon MuUer, 1836 (Class Mammalia). The last element of this compound genus name is evidently cyon (Greek kyon), the genitive of which is cynis (Greek kynos) and the stem is cyn-. The family name should therefore be corrected to otocynidae. It may be noted incidentally that the mammalian family-group names SIMOCYONIDAE and PROCYONIDAE, and probably others as well, should be treated similarly. Bull. zool. Nomencl, Vol. 29, Part 1. May 1972.
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