^"'ig^:?"] CAMI'l'.FJ.I, an<l SOX. Tyf^c Pcscriptions 187 



No. 9. — Small bird, with large bill ; white under neck and about 

 throat ; otherwise black and about same size as a Rail. Bright yellow 

 mark on top of head. There are two of them at present (February 28) 

 on the Island. March 20 : Four of these birds seen. (Sacred King- 

 fisher, Halcyon sanctKs) . 



No 10. — About twenty small birds, resembling the description of 

 Wood- Sandpipers, live on the island. The species has black bill, 

 yellowish-brown on face, mottled wings (black, brown and gold), 

 brownish-yellow breast, and black legs. These birds fly about the 

 beach, and apparently live on small shrimps. They were very shy, 

 but latterly have become quite tame. They now hop into the house, 

 and pick up crumbs. (Query.) 



Type Descriptions an(d the International Code 



By A. J. and A. G. CAMPBELL, Alelbourne. 



(Read at the Annual Session, R.A.O.U., Adelaide, 17th OctoI)er„ 

 1922.) 



Ornithology like many other sciences is undergoing evolution. 

 As the years roll by it gains in material and in outlook from 

 observations and researches of men in one field or another, so 

 that as a science it should grow into a more complete and 

 orderly whole. Not the .smallest preliminary feature is correct 

 nomenclature, without which everything would be chaotic. 



The Strickland Rules of Nomenclature have been the authority 

 in Britain for many years. H. E. Strickland first published his 

 Rules in 1842, a second edition appearing in 1863. These were 

 so practical and workable that the British Association for the 

 Advancement of Science in 1878 instructed a committee U) re- 

 publish the Strickland Rules at the Association's expense. 



The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, after 

 years of preparation by a European committee of prominent men, 

 was finally adopted at Berne in 1904, and is now commonly ac- 

 cepted as the law upon the subject of nomenclature. The Code 

 consists of thirty-six articles intelligently framed, and intended 

 to be complementary one to the other, besides which, for guid- 

 ance in the interpretation of certain of these articles, many 

 rules and recommendations have been given for its practical 

 application. A standard co])y of the Code, English translation, 

 with its original in French and German, should be in the 

 R.A.O.U. Library. It is the Pentateuch of ornithological science 

 and together with it should be filed copies of any pertinent 

 writings or observations thereon that ai)pear from time to time in 

 various parts of the world. 



The main object of the Code may be stated in the words of 

 the introduction which were the words of Strickland : "We hope 

 they (the rules) may lead to uniformity of method in future 



