{Authors are responsible for nomenclature used.) . > ,i;^^-f5s 



^v 



The Scottish Naturalist 



No. 42.] 1915 [June 



EDITORIAL. 



The Ibis for April contains some interesting and useful 

 criticisims of the new B.O.U. List of BritisJi Birds. Chief 

 among these is one from the pen of Dr Hartert, which — 

 though we cannot subscribe to all he puts forward, especially 

 on the vexed question of nomenclature — commends itself to 

 all who are interested, from its excellent tone and fair- 

 mindedness. We read with pleasure his generous recognition 

 of the labours of the Committee responsible for the prepara- 

 tion of the List, which, coming as it does from the senior 

 author of TJie Hajidlist of Bi'itish Birds, is particularly 

 valuable. The verdict of this authority is that, apart from 

 shortcomings (which, be it said, are matters of opinion), the 

 List of British Birds is " a great step in British Ornithol- 

 ogy. It must be welcome to everyone interested in the 

 progress of our beloved science as one of the last stepping- 

 stones enabling us to reach the highest possible level." 



The authorities of the British Museum have issued, under 

 date of February 191 5, a "Report on Cetacea stranded on 

 the British Coasts during 1914." The Report is from the 

 pen of Dr S. F. Harmer, Keeper of the Department of 

 Zoology, and is full of details of interest to naturalists. 

 Owing to the outbreak of war records were much interfered 

 with during the later months of the year, but in spite of this 

 fact we find a total of 57 records, of which 34 were specifically 

 determined. For the benefit of our readers we may quote 

 42 Q 



