198 THE BIRDS OF BRITIAN, 



The Black Grous (Tetrao empetrum) is there called the Black 

 Lyurus, (Lyurus tetrix), and the Tree Capercail {Capricalea arbo~ 

 red) was there designated Wood Grous {Tetrao arborea). I adopted 

 these names under the erroneous impression that the name of the 

 family could never be changed. For instance, the genus Warbler, 

 (Silvia), is a typical one, and thus the family is named the Warbler 

 family, (Silviadce). Others, however, think the genus Kinglet, 

 (Regulus), to be the typical genus, and thus, according to these, 

 the names Warbler and Silvia should be given to the genus Kinglet, 

 in order that the old family name, Silviada^, may remain: but would 

 it not be much better to call the family the Kinglet family, {Regu- 

 lidce) ? The same with the Grous : it is now generally agreed, 

 that the genus Capercail is the type of the family ; — thus, this may 

 be called the Capercail family, (Gapricalidce). On the other plan, 

 the generic names would be constantly liable to change, and not a 

 single counterbalancing advantage would be gained, to compensate 

 for the confusion thus occasioned : by the mode now proposed, and 

 which has been followed by some ornithologists, the generic name 

 would never be altered. 



The name Coalhood has been objected to, as a generic appellation, 

 on the ground that species may hereafter be discovered which have 

 no black on the head. The same objection will, however, apply 

 also to Redbreast, Waxwing, Nutcracker, and others; so that if 

 Coalhood is rejected on this ground, so ought these, also, to be dis- 

 carded. Forktail has, likewise, been objected to, on account of its 

 being applicable to other genera, as the Tern and Kite : but I do 

 not know a single meaning name in Ornithology, (with the excep- 

 tion of Crossbill, — Cmcirostra), which is proof against this objec- 

 tion : as examples. Woodpecker, Redstart, Dipper, Lobefoot, Long- 

 spur, Thickbill, Grosbeak, &c. &c., may be given. This is in 

 favour of Dr. Lindley's opinion, that a good unmeaning generic 

 name is the best, — as Lark, Pinnoc, Sparrow, Siskin, Snipe, Finch, 

 Ossifrage, Bustard, &c. The same may, perhaps, be said of the 

 Latin names. 



I will now give the British birds, as divided, by Vigors, into five 

 Orders, in accordance with the principles of the learned, profound 

 and acute Macleay. 



