ON SCIENTIFIC NOMENCLATURE. 303 



cular attention, namely, the Falconidce, or Falcon family. The arrangements 

 as nearly as possible according to the true natural affinities, and is the only 

 really scientific one I ever saw. It was adopted by, and, I believe, originated 

 with, Mr. Vigors [Now N. A. Vigors, Esq., M.P., D.C.L., F.R.S., &c— Ed.], 

 in some admirable papers by that distinguished naturalist in the Zoological 

 Journal. * 



Rock Goshawk, Astur palumbarius. 



Sparrow Hawk, Accipiter fringillarius: • 



Common Merlin, JEsalon ccesius. 



Kestril Falcon, Falco tinnunculus. 



Orange-legged Falcon, Falco rufipee. 



Hobby Falcon, Falco subbuteo. 



Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus. 



Jer Falcon, Falco Islandicus. 



Golden Eagle, Chrysaetus aquilinus.i fj\ e., Aquiline Golden-Eagle f — Why 

 not Aquila aurea, of our worthy countryman Willughby ? — Ed.] 



Common Ossifrage, Haliaetus albicilla. 



Common Osprey, Ichthyaetus piscivorus.% 



Common Kite, Milvusfurcatus. 



[White-headed Forktail, Elanus leucocephalus. — Ed.} 



Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus. 



Rough-legged Buzzard, Buteo pennatus. 



Common Buzzard, Buteo vulgaris. 



Marsh Harrier, Circus rufus. 



Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus. 



* We are well acquainted with the excellent article of Dr. Vigors in the Zool. Journ. Vol. 

 p. 368), but we must confess ourselves at a loss to perceive much resemblance between either; 1 ! > 

 nomenclature on arrangement adopted by Dr. V. and that presented to the readers of The 

 Naturalist by our correspondent. — Ed. 



f The above [generic] name for the Golden Eagle, I consider the most appropriate that can 

 be given. The adults (two magnificent specimens of which I lately inspected in the Zoological 

 Gardens, with special reference to the propriety of that name), when in full plumage, are of 

 dark brown, mixed with a fine rich tawny, as nearly as possible the colour of gold when slightly 

 alloyed with copper ; and as it is the only truly typical species we possess, it follows, as a thing 

 of course, that it is the most aquiline of the group, and, in my opinion at least, fully justifies its- 

 claim to the above appellation. [That the Golden Eagle is typical of its genus we do not deny, 



nor yet do we oppose the claims of the genus itself to typicality as far as regards the subfamily to 

 which it belongs ; but assuredly neither of these circumstances have any thing whatever to do 

 with the specific name of the bird. — Ed.] 



X Here the fish-eating is given both as a general and specific character, which is decidedly 

 obj ectionable. — Ed. 



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