Some Works of Bartram, Daudin, Latreille, and Sonnini, and Their Bearing Upon North American Herpetological Nomenclature

Abstract

The works here reviewed contain the type descriptions or other important information concerning a considerable number of North American amphibians and reptiles. Except in the case of Bartram, there has been much uncertainty as to the dates of publication, which are so important to the taxonomist and the bibliographer. I shall first cite these works in the approximate sequence of publication, and thereafter discuss the evidence for somie of the dates assigned. Various nomenclatural and taxonomic problems, including especially the original descriptions of the new North American species contained in these works, and the authorship of these descriptions, will also call for comment.