CORRESPONDENCE. 109 



To the Editor of the Analyst. 

 Sir, 



Since the framer of the ornithological arrangement in No. 14f of 

 The Analyst informs us that he shall be '^ ready to attend to sug- 

 gestions respecting the names of any birds/' a few observations on 

 his luminous list, may, probably, not be altogether unacceptable to 

 S. D. W., and to the other ornithological readers of your Journal, 

 Of the general tenor of the catalogue submitted to the public by 

 S. D. W., I much approve ; but a few of the minutiae appear to me 

 somewhat objectionable. As the classification agrees in most par- 

 ticulars with the system adopted by Selby in his Illustrations, it 

 will be unnecessary to offer any remarks on this department. To 

 the investigation of the appellations, Latin and English, I will pro- 

 ceed without delay. 



The principle of giving a generic and specific English name to 

 each species, is admirably adhered to ; but I fear that some of the 

 English designations are not sufficiently euphonious to allow them 

 to come into general use. I should have considered this but a trifl- 

 ing objection ; but it is probable that much stress will be laid on it 

 by those who are averse to innovations, or to a Jittle temporary in- 

 convenience, without reflecting on the advantage that must and 

 assuredly will accrue from the alteration, when effected. To such 

 names as Abern, Ossifrage, Pern, and Forktail, few will object ; 

 but the fastidious will not readily assent to Toadeater, Madge, 

 Surn, &c. Fantail, Reedling, Fauvet, Whinling, Kinglet, Long- 

 tail, Pinnock, Oatear, Longspur, Gold wing, Coalhood, &c., are ad- 

 mirable, and deserve to be speedily adopted ; but what an uncouth 

 term is Brakehopper, for the sprightly bird to which it is attached 

 by S. D. W. It is but fair, however, to admit that, in this case, 

 we have our choice between Brakehopper and Locustel ; but it is 

 little better than a " Hobson's choice." Popin is, likewise, a vul- 

 gar, Rennie-like name, and Zigzag Wryneck, though singularly 

 appropriate, is not sufficiently euphonious. The same observation 

 applies equally forcibly to Sprigtail, Aptern, and Buzzemel. With 

 the designations of the water-birds there is much less fault to be 

 found, though one can scarce help smiling at Woodock, Zapern, 

 Viral V, Zeme, &c. While I object to the above-mentioned names, 

 I do not at present pretend to offer others in their stead, but have 

 merely pointed them out for the further consideration of the "^ zeal- 

 ous ornithological reformer of Derby." Of course, I well know the 

 diflSculty of obtaining appellations which are suitable in every 

 respect, but still it is not an impossibility. The next point to be 



