NEVILLE WOOD'S <( BRITISH SONG BIRDS." 195 



otherwise a specific name must be added. Sky Lark, Wood Lark, 

 &c, are often written as single words, but equally erroneously. 



Willughby's name, Fringil/a montana, should be adopted instead 

 of F. montifringilla (Linn.), both on the score of priority, and as 

 omitting the useless repetition contained in the latter. We may 

 here observe that this truly great Naturalist (Linneus) was too 

 fond of substituting his own names for those which had long since 

 been established by Gesner, Aldrovand, Will ugh by, &c. ; and his 

 alterations were often far from being improvements. 



Carduelis elegans we have described as the Common Gold wing; 

 C spinus as the Siskin Gold wing. To call the genus Goldfinch 

 would be improper, as these birds are not Finches ; and we are of 

 opinion that a name appropriated to one genus should not be ap- 

 plied to any other under any combination whatsoever. Common 

 is the best appellation we can find for Carduelis elegans. Indeed, 

 as far as regards British birds, the name could not be improved ; but 

 as the genus contains other species besides those found in this coun- 

 try, we should be happy to have a better suggested. 



We have substituted Whin Linnet for Common or Brown Lin- 

 net, neither of the latter being by any means exclusive, as must be 

 apparent to every one at all acquainted with the other Linnets. 

 This species is constantly met with amongst whin bushes, which 

 can be said of none of the others. This bird has been called the 

 Garden Linnet ; but it only frequents gardens during the breeding 

 season ; and even then in much fewer numbers than it all times 

 occurs on furze commons. 



Selby gives the specific appellation vulgaris to the Haw Gros- 

 beak ; but as the bird happens to be rare in Britain, we have trans- 

 lated the English name into Latin. Coccolhraustes Crataegus, 

 Blyth, so called from the favourite food of the bird at one season of 

 the year. 



We rather doubt whether Pippin Crossbill, adopted in the Song 

 Birds, is an improvement on Common Crossbill. Neither of them 

 are exclusive, and we must look out for better names. 



Pine Grosbeak we render Pine Thickbill. The meaning of both 

 is the same, but Grosbeak is already engaged for Coccolhraustes. 

 There are, doubtless, many birds with much thicker bills than the 

 Pine Thickbill ; but if this objection be levelled at the present ap- 

 pellation, most assuredly a similar one will be equally applicable 

 to Grosbeak, Redbreast, and a dozen others. 



Our Hedge Coalhood is the Bullfinch of other Ornitholo- 

 gists. The latter is equally erroneous with Goldfinch. The new 



