f 493 ) 



varying with each generation, obvionsly incorreet names gaining influence at times 

 through the action of a master-iiand accejiting tlieni. Tliis was observed so often 

 that I have every confidence that the names here proposed, where accurate, woidd 

 very soon displace the incorrect ones, now in use, were action to take place at once 

 and only the correct names be used. 



lu ortler that no misunderstanding may arise, my general rules have been as 

 follows : — 



ITon-binomial authors have been ignored. 



Nude names have been rejected. 



The law of priority has been rigidly observed. 



It might be considered superfluous to make the above statements, but I have 

 found so much inconsistency, even among authors professing to accept the above, 

 that I have felt compelled to make myself clear on this score. AVhat constitutes a 

 nnde generic name seems a moot point. Names unaccompanied by citation of 

 known species and diagnosis have been ignored. In tlie Amer. O. i'. Cliork IJst, 

 3rd Ed. 1910, what may be known as " Oken's names " (Alien, Hull. Anwr. Mus. 

 JShit. Hist. vol. xxiv. 1908. p. 26, note) have been accepted. The matter is too 

 intricate to discuss here, but I certainly refuse to recognize them. I only received 

 the latest edition of the Check List when the majority of these notes were drawn 

 up, but have taken advantage of most of the alterations there authorized that relate 

 to the birds which fall under my earn. 



The following alterations are necessary, the pages and numbers referring to 

 my IlawlUst of the Birds of Australia (190.S) : — 



Page 5: Genus II. Castutrius Latham, Index Oriiith. ii. p. 004 (1790) — type 

 C. casuarius 

 vice Casuarius Brisson. 

 Casuarius johnsoni F. Mueller replaces C. australis Wall (not Shaw), 

 if the rule "Once a synonym always a synonym " is enforced. 

 „ () : Genus III. ilcijajtodius Temmiuck, I'lanches Uol. pi. 2-0, August 1823 



vice Meyapodius Quoy et Gaimard. 

 , 12: Genus XXX. Euri/zona Bonaparte, Couipt. Rend, xliii. p. 599 (1850) — 

 type Rallus fascial us Raffles 

 replaces Rallina anct. (not liallina Reichenbach). 



Reichenbach in Aeium S'/st. Xat. pi. xx. 1849 figures the liead, foot, and wing 

 of a new genus liallina. In Xov. Synopsis Avium, No. 5, July 1851, he named 

 2577 I'allina coneolor {Rallus — Gosse, B. of .Jam.) ; 2471-2 Jlallinn immaculata 

 {Porzana — Gould, .l(^s'//'. vi. pi. 82); 2477 Rallina plumhea {Rallus — us Vieill. 

 niyricans Vieill.). 



In 1852 the text to the plates of the Acium Syst. Nat. was published, and on 

 p. xxiii was named Rallina Reichenbach ma.rima {Rail — us Vieill.) R. as the 

 typical species of the genus, and references were included covering tiie ]irevious 

 entrances of the genus-name. 



If we accept ma.iinia as the type of Rallina, then Reicheuliach's name I'alls as 

 an alisolute synonym of Aramides I'uclieran, I'rrue Zool. p. 277 (Is45) — ty(>e 

 ,1. cayanea. 



If coneolor be considered as the type, tiien Rallina will displace Amauroliniiias 

 8harpc {Ball. ihn. Club No. 5. p. xxviii, Is'.Ki), introduced for thai sjiecies 

 alone. 



