Benham. — Nomenclature of the Birds of New Zealand. 193 



graphical term is found to belong to a bird living half the circumference of 

 the globe away from the Cape. No sort of inconvenience would result were 

 this name capensis ignored. One feels a deep regret that these authors 

 have done their work so conscientiously and thoroughly. 



We must, of course, fully recognize the importance of adhering to the 

 rules of nomenclature, but in cases such as these three birds surely some 

 advantage to the naturalists (especially in New Zealand) is sacrificed to a 

 strict adherence to the law of priority, and no corresponding advantage, 

 it seems to me, is gained by the ornithologist. These sticklers for priority 

 ignore the fact that the various books dealing with natural history generally, 

 works on general zoology and on geographical distribution and other cognate 

 subjects, in which these birds (and the same applies, of course, to other 

 groups of animals) are referred to in illustration of habit, or structure, or 

 habitat, or adaptation, &c, become puzzling or meaningless to later gene- 

 rations of readers when well-established names are thus altered by specialists 

 who have been able to delve a little deeper into the pamphlets of the past. 

 Some of us general zoologists who have to keep abreast of several groups 

 in the interests of our students feel that some sort of statute of limitation is 

 needed, and welcome some controlling influence such as is being evolved by 

 the International Commission on Nomenclature. 



This leads on to another matter. Since the publication of the " Refer- 

 ence List " there has appeared in the Zoologischer Anzeiger, for the 26th 

 September, 1913, a report by an International Committee of Ornithologists 

 recommending a list of generic names of birds as " valid and to be accepted " 

 by all ornithologists. In this list I notice two names which Mathews and 

 Iredale had proposed to alter — viz., Phalacrocorax, with type P. carbo, 

 Linne ; Himantopus, with type H. himantopus, Linne. This being the 

 case, we must in obedience to this Commission on Nomenclature retain 

 these two generic names in spite of the investigations of Mathews and 

 Iredale, who suggest that in place of them should be substituted Carbo 

 and Hypsibates respectively. In the list appended I have followed the com- 

 mittee's ruling. 



International committees have been set up by the Commission for the 

 consideration of lists of names in the various classes of the animal kingdom 

 which naturalists deem it desirable or advantageous should be retained in 

 spite of the rule of priority. It is quite possible that the. committee would, 

 if the matter were referred to them, decide in favour of retaining Glaucopis 

 and Heteralocha* 



Again and again the authors emphasize the need of a careful study of 

 a good series of specimens, with well-authenticated localities, before it is 

 possible to decide finally on the distinction of certain of the subspecies, 

 such as the warblers, hawks, kakapos, nestors, shags, &c. It is, however, 

 to be feared that this desideratum will be difficult to attain, for, since every 

 land-bird is now protected by Order in Council, it is very difficult, if not 

 impossible, to obtain anything like a good series for careful investigation. 

 The specimens in the private collections up and down the country are 

 not always, it is to be feared, properly " localized " : many of the localities 

 are only preserved in the memory of their possessors. 



I append three lists — I. A list of changes in generic names. II. A 

 complete list of the birds which are constantly to be found within the New 

 Zealand area, most of which are known to breed therein. III. A list of 

 occasional visitors. 



* I have submitted these names to the consideration of the committee. 

 7— Trans. 



