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OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE OP 

 NEVILLE WOOD'S "BRITISH SONG BIRDS." 



It was the intention of Mr. Neville Wood to have prefixed an 

 Introduction to his recently published British Song Birds, contain- 

 ing, amongst other matters, a discourse on the nomenclature adopted 

 in the work ; but as many circumstances conspired to prevent his 

 effecting this object, and as several of his friends have expressed 

 their regret at this omission, we propose to supply the deficiency in 

 the present number of the Analyst. Before proceeding further, 

 it may be as well to mention that the plan, so often alluded to in 

 previous numbers, of allotting an English generic and specific ap- 

 pellation to each species, has been observed throughout. We now 

 proceed to give our reasons for the alterations in nomenclature 

 which occur in various parts of the book ; of course passing over 

 without comment such designations as remain unchanged. 



To commence, then, with the " Song Thrush/' or <e Throstle," 

 of most authors. This name would seem to imply that this bird 

 was the only species in the genus which sings ; but as the Missel 

 Thrush warbles melodiously, and both the Field and Redwing 

 Thrushes have a song, it is obviously incorrect. Garden Thrush 

 appears to us to be exclusive, at least as far as regards British birds, 

 which, on the present occasion, will alone occupy our attention. — 

 Garden Thrush, Turdus kortensis. 



Field Thrush, which is adopted in the Song Birds, is not exclu- 

 sive, as it would apply equally well to the Redwing Thrush, but it 

 must remain until a better occurs. 



Garden Ouzel is employed instead of Black Ouzel ; there being 

 two British Ouzels (Mcrula), both black. 



Tree Redstart might perhaps admit of improvement, but it is 

 used, provisionally, instead of Common — the most vague and unsa- 

 tisfactory term ever introduced into scientific nomenclature. — Tree 

 Redstart, Phcenicura albifrons, Blyth. 



The next species is designated, after other Ornithologists, Tithys 

 Redstart, Phcenicura Tithys ; but Tithys appears to be a mere fan- 

 ciful name, and we propose to substitute in its stead Blackthroated 

 Redstart, Ph. nigricollis (S. D. W.), the application of which is too 

 obvious to require any comment from us. 



The third species usually considered a Redstart, has been sepa- 

 rated from that genus by Mr. Blyth, and termed the Bluethroated 



