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Rh for many years, and its subsequent discovery will “knock out” one which has been in use for a long time. Thus about thirty years ago the whelk genus Fulgur Lamarck 1799 was abandoned for Busycon Röding 1798. The same fate may be met by well-known species. Thus Busycon pyrum Dillwyn 1817 now becomes B. spirata Lamarck 1816. It is believed that “rock bottom” will be reached some day, so that few, if any, further changes will occur. Nevertheless, it is with considerable regret that I change a number of familiar names in this book.

Occasionally, certain names are conserved or “frozen” by the Commission if they are well-established and are in danger of being replaced by an earlier but obscurely known name. The following marine genera of mollusks are on the conserved list: Aplysia, Arca, Argonauta, Buccinum, Bulla, Calyptraea, Columbella, Dentalium, Mactra, Modiolus, Mya, Mytilus, Neritina, Ostrea, Sepia, Spirula, Teredo. Many others, including very familiar species names, need to be added to this list. There are many technical refinements to nomenclature, and those interested in such matters are referred to Procedure in Taxonomy by Schenk and McMasters (Stanford University Press).

Pronunciation of scientific names. There is no official pronunciation established for names, and for certain words it may vary from one county to another. Many pronunciations not based on classical rules have become established and passed on from generation to generation. A few examples, classical or not, are given below:

Oliva (all-eeva), Eulima (you-lee-mah), Chiton (kite-on), Chama (kam-ah), Chione (kigh-own-ee), Cypraea (sip-ree-ah), Cyphoma (sigh-fo-mah), versicolor (ver-sik-o-lor said quickly), Busycon (boos-eekon), ]anthina (yan-theena), Xenophora (zen-off-fora), gigas (rhymes with "jibe gas": ji-gas), conch (konk), radula (rad-you-lah), operculum (oh-perk-you-lum), smithi (smith-eye), ruthae (rooth-ee). The pronunciations of some of the authors are: Linné (lin-ay) or sometimes Linnaeus (lin-ee-us), Gould (goold), Deshayes (desh-ayz), Orbigny (or-bee-nee), Gmelin (mell-an), Bruguière (broo-gui-air), Kiener (keen-er), Mighels (my-els), Couthouy (koo-thoo-ee).

Common abbreviations of names of well-known authors. Although most popular and scientific books spell in full the names of authors of scientific designations, a large number of articles and most museum labels bear only abbreviations. For this reason, a short list of frequently seen examples is included:


 * A. Ads.A. Adams
 * A. and H.Alder and Hancock
 * Ag.Aguayo
 * Btsch.Bartsch
 * B. and S.Broderip and Sowerby
 * Brod.Broderip
 * Brug.Bruguière
 * C. B. Ad.C. B. Adams