142 On the Propriety of altering 



of the names of Willughby are even superior to those of 

 Linnaeus; as JFVingilla montana for the mountain finch; which 

 is far preferable to the awkward name i*ringilla montifringilla, 

 given by the Scandinavian naturalist. Returning from this 

 short, but necessary, digression, I shall proceed in my exami- 

 nation of the paper under consideration. 



The whole of the paragraph in page 38. is founded on the 

 erroneous notion that, if specific names have any meaning, that 

 meaning must convey the whole specific description. No one 

 ever maintained this ; and thus Mr. Strickland may refute it 

 without much fear of contradiction. We shall therefore enter 

 on the next paragraph, Mr. Strickland says, — " In addition 

 to the arguments above stated, there are several other strong 

 objections to the arbitrary and unlicensed alteration of es- 

 tablished names." What, in the name of common sense, can 

 be the use of devoting pen and ink to refuting opinions which 

 were never held, much less defended? Mr. Strickland might 

 as well fight his own shadow. It having been previously 

 shown, both by argument and authority, that specific names 

 should not only have a meaning, but also a meaning agree- 

 able to truth, those specific names which do not answer to 

 this description should not be suffered to stain the cata- 

 logues of the scientific; and, that my meaning may be the bet- 

 ter understood, I shall give examples of objectionable specific 

 names, as I have previously of desirable appellations: 1st, 

 from the commonness of a species; as common crossbill (Cruci- 

 rostra vulgaris Stev.}, common coalhood (Pyrrhula vulgaris 

 Tern.) : 2dly, from the size ; as great snipe (Scolopax major), 

 little grebe (Podiceps minor), greatest toadeater (JSubo 

 maximus) : 3dly, from the name of a place or country ; as 

 Dartford whinling (Melizophilus dartfordiensis), Bohemian 

 waxwing (Bombycilla bohemica), European dipper (Cinclus 

 europae N us) : 4thly, from the names of persons ; as Richard's 

 lavroc (Corydalla Richard? Vieil.), Tengmalm's nightling 

 (Noctua Tengmalrm Selby.)* The objection to the first is 

 obvious : a bird which is common in one country, is very rare, 

 or not to be found, in another ; and this difference occurs not 

 only in countries, but also in counties and districts. The objec- 

 tion to the second mode is, that it is very probable that species 

 yet larger, or smaller, than those to which these epithets are 

 applied may be discovered ; in which case, it is no longer ap- 

 plicable : this frequently happens. Thirdly, the name of a coun- 

 try can never, with propriety, be affixed to a species, unless this 

 is the only species found in that country, and unless it is confined 

 exclusively to that country. It is thus evident that it can never 

 be adopted. The red ptarmigan (Xagopus britannicus) is, I 



