Note 438 — Chapter XXI · PYCNOGONIDA[393]

Stebbing has recently shown (Knowledge, Aug. 1902, p. 157) that the genus Phoxichilus was instituted by Latreille (Nouv. Dict. d’hist. nat. 1804) for the Pycnogonum spinipes of Fabricius, now Pseudopallene spinipes, auctt. Hence he changes Pseudopallene to Phoxichilus, Latr., and Phoxichilidae and Phoxichilus, auctt., to Chilophoxidae, etc.; it also follows that the family known to all naturalists as Pallenidae should, according to the letter of the law of priority, be henceforth known as the Phoxichilidae. In my opinion this is a case where strict adherence to priority would serve no good end, but would only lead to great and lasting confusion (cf. Norman, J. Linn. Soc. xxx., 1908, p. 231).