244 Mr. Vicors’s and Dr. Honsrrirrp's Description of the 
markings, we must observe, are important; similar differences 
form the points of distinction between our European species, 
M. collaris, Bechst., and M.atricapilla, Linn. But at present we 
have not sufficient grounds for decision on this subject; the few 
specimens we have in this country exhibiting much appearance 
of variation. We therefore merely express our doubts. 
We have necessarily adopted Gmelin's name for this spe- 
cies instead of Dr. Latham’s, in as much as the former has 
the right of priority. Dr. Latham, although he described and 
figured the bird in 1783, did not give it a scientific name 
until he published his ** Index Ornithologicus" in 1790, two 
years after the publication of Gmelin’s “ Systema.’ A line 
of distinction must be drawn by which we can invariably de- 
termine the choice of names, where a species or a group has 
more than one; and the date of publication seems to be the 
justest and most uniform by which we can be regulated. . In the 
present instance, however, and in many others of a similar de- 
scription, we have to regret, that whatever credit is due to him 
who confers a title on a group in nature,—and, trivial as it is, 
still some little reputation is attached to such points,—is trans- 
ferred to the compiler, who puts together without knowledge or 
discrimination the observations of those who precede him, and 
thus stamps with his own name the labours of others, in detri- 
ment to the true naturalist, who works not from books, but 
studies in nature. The law, however, ought to be inflexible : 
and as such it would be expedient for naturalists not to exhibit 
the fruit of their labours without at the same time characterizing 
and naming them. 
In Mr. Caley’s MSS. are the following observations on the 
specimens in our collection. ‘Australasian Redstart.— This is by 
no means to be called a plentiful bird, and it seems to be scat- 
tered over a great space of country. In the month of November 
lsaw 
