300 CORRESPONDENCE. 



mention. In the first place, the order in which the birds are ar- 

 ranged violates the natural affinities of the birds. This, however, 

 would not be of much consequence, as the collector has the option 

 of erasing the figures attached to each label ; but another defect is 

 not so easily to be dismissed^^ — errors of nomenclature, Latin no less 

 than English. Of the truth of this assertion, the names of the spe- 

 cies in the Treeling family (Silviadee) afford a striking example. 

 In the genus Silvia are ranked the two Redstarts {Ruticilla), the 

 Whinling (Melizopilus), the Redbreast (Ruhecula), the Nightin- 

 gale {Philomela), the four Warblers (Ficedula), and two of the 

 Treelings (Silvia) ; while the remaining Treeling (namely, the 

 Garden Treeling, Silvia melodia, Blyth), is divided into two species, 

 under the names Curruca major and C minor, and ranked with 

 the Reedings ( Salicaria). And this arrangement, Mr. Morris ex- 

 pressly informs us, '^ he considers still to be the best \" but which 

 I consider worse, if possible, than Fleming's. I may also men- 

 tion that the Spring Oatear {Pecula verna) is here called " Mota~ 

 cilia jiava ;" a name which should be no longer used for the Spring 

 Oatear, since it is used for the Grayhead6d Oatear (Pecula neglectd) 

 by Temminck and continental naturalists, The " Red Lark 

 (Alauda ruhra),^' which Mr. Morris has admitted into his catalogue, 

 and about which there has been so much uncertainty, I am inclined 

 to think no other than the Rock Pipit (Anfhus rupestris). The 

 Chaff Finch and the Bramble Finch, Mr. Morris has left without a 

 generic name ; by looking to the proper sources he would have 

 learnt that Fringilla was the appropriate name. The Lanner Fal- 

 con (Falco lanarius) is not a British species. The Asia ulula and 

 Asio pinus are, in the Guide, given the highly scientific and unob- 

 jectionable names, Otus brachyotus and Oius aurita — quite models 

 for the nomenclator. The Common Pye is called Pica caudata ; 

 would not Pica varia, of Willughby, be preferable ? Glandarius 

 vulgaris is an unnecessary innovation, and the generic name of the 

 genus Chuf is Fregilus, not Graculus. The Slurnus solitarius is 

 the young of the Sturnus varius. With regard to the name Hom- 

 bycivora, Temminck thus remarks in the third volume of his Ma- 

 nuel, lately published — " II serait peut-etre mieux vu de se servir du 

 nom de Bombiciphora, dont j'ai fait usage, mais qui a subi la critique, 

 par inadvertence de correction dans la texte du Manuel, ou il est 

 ecrit Bombicivora." Temminck, in common with all other ornitho- 

 thologists, has adopted Brisson's name, Bombicilla. The Goldcrested 

 Kinglet {Regulus auricapillus, Selby), Mr. Morris has called R, 

 cristatus ; as if all the species of Kinglet were not crested. I have 



