on Mr. G. R. Gray's ^ Genera of Birds.^ 33 



mon with many other birds to which it has no affinity. The Spar- 

 rows were first defined as a genus by Cuvier, who gave them the name 

 by which the ancient Greeks designated them. 



To the synonymes of Montifringilla add Chionospiza, Kaup. 



Ammodramus should be written Ammodromus. 



P. 47. It does not appear why the name Melophus cristata (Vig.) 

 is changed to M. lathami, Gray. I see no objection to cristata, but 

 if there be any, Sir W. Jardine's name erythropterus should be 

 adopted. 



The name Cynchramus was first used generically, I believe, by Bo- 

 naparte. 



P. 48. Agrodroma rufescens, Tem., should be called -4. campestris, 

 Bechst. 



P. 49. The fdiimlj Musophagidce, as here constituted, is a very arti- 

 ficial group. The genus Phytotoma should certainly be placed next 

 to, if not in, the sub-family Tanagrince. Its beak approaches in form 

 near that of Spindalis, Jard., and the dentations of the margin, 

 though very peculiar, have a distant counterpart in the beak of 

 Euphone. Its South American habitat also favours this view of ar- 

 rangement. 



The Coliince certainly seem to form a caput mortuum, which no 

 analysis has yet been able to bring within the limits of any other 

 family of Conirostres. They may therefore be raised to the rank of 

 a family with the title of Coliidce. 



The sub-family Musophagince ought, I conceive, to be placed in the 

 family CucuUdce. It decidedly belongs to the Scansores, for live spe- 

 cimens of Turaco invariably perch with two toes behind the branch. 

 In the structure of their beak and legs they show considerable affinity 

 to the CuculidiB, especially to the genera Phoenicophaus and Croto- 

 phaga. It will be recollected too that the Cuculide genus Sauro- 

 thera has the bill dentated. 



Mr. Gray is quite correct in quoting Edwards, pi. 7, under Turaco 

 persa (Lin.). The descriptions of Cuculus persa given by Linnaeus 

 and Brisson are taken from Edwards, and are based on the very rare 

 species with a green crest margined with red (C huffoni of Swainson, 

 but not of Vieillot nor of Jardine, which is the purpureus, Less , and 

 senegalensis, Sw.). There is a specimen of the true T. persa in Lord 

 Derby's collection. The name persa is commonly but erroneously 

 given to the species with a green crest margined with white. This 

 species has never received a distinct appellation, and I therefore re- 

 commend that it be called T. alhocristatus. Stephens's name afri- 

 canus cannot be correctly used for it, for his description is inappli- 

 cable to any known species, and is a melange of the descriptions of 

 T. alhocristatus and T. persa. 



P. 50. According to the laws of Latinity, Tockus should be written 

 Toccus, and Ramphastos, Rhamphastos. 



The genus Scythrops, though it reminds us at first sight of the 

 Rhamphastidce, yet is much more nearly allied to the CucuUdce, as 

 shown by the position of the nostrils, the red space round the eyes, 

 the form of the wings and feet, and the geographical habitat. Phce- 



Ann, §• Mag. N, Hist, Vol. vii. D 



