390 Letters, Extracts, and Notes. 



Thinga maculata Vieillot (p. 219). This name is in- 

 validated by the earlier use of the same combination by 

 Linne, Syst. Nat. 12th ed. 1766, p. 249. This correction 

 was published by Mathews (Birds Austr. vol. iii. p. 261, 

 August 1913), who showed the next name to be Tringa 

 pectoralis Say in Long, Exped. to Rocky Mts. vol. i. 

 1823, p. 171, footnote : Engineer Cantonment, near 

 Rocky Mts., U.S.A. 



Sterna fuliginosa Gmelin (p. 269). This name is retained, 

 not as a nomen conservandum, but because, according 

 to the Committee, Sterna fuscata Linne " is based on 

 a young bird, and the identification with the Sooty 

 Tern is uncertain." This statement is incorrect, as 

 I have indicated in 'The Ibis' for July 1914, and I 

 cannot appreciate the reason for the promulgation of 

 such a remark. Extra-limital workers would conclude 

 from the Committee's statement that my article has been 

 criticised by them and that I had erred. This is not so, 

 as in this case there is no matter of opinion concerned, 

 but simply facts, and these are absolutely conclusive. 



The correct name is Sterna fuscata Linne, Syst. Nat. 

 12th ed. 1766, p. 228 : Domingo. 



I can understand any reason being sufficient in the 

 case of a nomen conservandum, but an erroneous state- 

 ment cannot achieve any good but only cause trouble. 



I am, Sir, 



Yours, &c.. 

 Natural History Museum, ToM Iredale. 



Cromwell Road, S.W., 



March 6, 1915. 



The Annual General Meeting of the British Ornithologists' 

 Union. — The Annual General Meeting of the B. O. U. for 

 1915 was held on March 10 at the Offices of the Zoological 

 Society of London, the President, Col. R. G. Wardlaw- 

 Ramsay, being in the Chair. There were sixty-two members 

 present. 



