the Genera and Subgenera of Birds. ] 93 



ment that T. episcopus has always hitherto been appropriated as the 

 type of the genus Tanagra. 



If I have '* not ventured to carry out these rules [that is to say, 

 the recognition of the first-named species of a group as its type, when 

 no other is indicated as such] throughout to their legitimate result," 

 I have at least shown in the two instances especially cited, Strix and 

 Falco, how the matter stands in relation to them. Throughout all 

 the editions of Linnaeus from 1735 to 1766, Strix Bubo is uniformly 

 placed at the head of his genus Strix ; while the modern innovation 

 of considering Strix jiammea as the type was not legitimately adopted 

 until 1809 by Savigny ; and so much has the propriety of this deter- 

 mination been doubted, that no fewer than four ornithologists have 

 since proposed as many different names for the division of which 

 Strix jiammea forms the type. Had I therefore "ventured" to 

 meddle with this, which I cannot but consider as an unfortunate ap- 

 propriation, I could not have been charged with an infringement of 

 the maxim ^' quiet a non movere.'^ So with regard to Falco, it will 

 be seen by the quotations in my work itself in what manner Linnaeus 

 altered his opinion as to the species to be placed first, as follows : — in 

 the editions of 1735, 1744 and 1758, Falco chrysaetos (= Aquila) j 

 in those of 1748 and 1756, Vultur percnopterus (= Neophron) ; 

 and finally in 1766 Falco coronatus (= Spizaetus). 



But I will not pursue this subject farther. In my work it will be 

 found that I have endeavoured to give as complete a view as possible 

 of the facts, by referring to these and similar changes, in order to 

 assist the student in the application of his own particular views to 

 the facts of each particular case. I feel abundantly satisfied that the 

 adoption of the *' statute of limitations," as proposed, would have 

 led to the alteration of many more names than I have "ventured" 

 to change, by adopting as my guide the first species of each genus, 

 as it stood when first established. No " statute of limitations," nor 

 any other rule but that of mere caprice, would sanction many of the 

 types adopted for the older genera by modern authors, whose great 

 fault it has been that they have disregarded the labours of their pre- 

 decessors, and thus involved themselves in those numerous uncalled- 

 for alterations and repetitions against which the reviewer so justly, 

 declaims. 



I pass over the remarks on the subject of names closely resem- 

 bling each other, as it is probable that no two persons would ever 

 agree on the exact degree of permissible similarity in sound or spell- 

 ing, and it is certain that the natives of different countries would 

 entertain different opinions on the subject ; and come next to the 

 reviewer's expression of " regret that Mr. Gray had not thought fit 

 to adopt the very simple rule given in the British Association Com- 

 mittee's Report for the formation of the names of the families and 

 subfamilies in idee and ince.'''' On this point (which is quite second- 

 ary to my main object of "Genera") I have to observe, that the 

 rules which I have adopted were collected, as the best that had been 

 proposed by my predecessors, and those which appeared to me to 

 combine most completely the principles of fairness and justice towards 



Ann. ^ Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol xvii. 13 



