494 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



We cannot criticize the Rules at length in this journal. 

 Every zoologist should make himself acquainted with them, 

 and must settle for himself how far he is disposed to obey 

 them. We may, however, remark that it appears to us that 

 far too much weight is allowed in them to the claims of 

 " Priority," which is a doctrine much in fashion at the 

 present time. " Priority " is an excellent thing and worthy 

 of all due respect, but we do not see why it should supersede 

 the rules of the Latin grammar, as would be the case if the 

 new code were implicitly followed. Nor, in our opinion, 

 should " Priority " be held sufficient to justify the usage of 

 an obviously incorrect term, such as the application of the 

 specific name lt capensis " to a South-American bird. In 

 such cases " Priority " should give way to Common Sense. 

 A third point in which the claims of " Priority " should not 

 be recognised is in the case in which the specific name of an 

 animal has subsequently become also its generic name — 

 especially now that subspecies are coming into more frequent 

 use: " Pica pica" is bad, but Pica pica pica. Coccothraustes 

 coccothraustes coccothraustes, and such alliterations are, in 

 our opinion, very objectionable. It is far better to throw 

 " Priority" aside in such cases, and to employ the next earliest 

 name, as enacted in the original Stricklandian Code. 



82. Schaloiv on Arctic Birds. 



[Fauna Arctica. Die Vogel der Arktis. Yon Herman Schalow, in 

 Berlin. Jena : G. Fischer, 1904. Pp. 288.] 



The Arctic Ornis is of special interest to us in England, 

 as most of the birds in the List are also to be found, at 

 least occasionally, in the British Islands. It is therefore 

 with much pleasure that we receive a separate copy of " Die 

 Vogel dcr Arktis," which forms part of the fourth volume of 

 the ' Fauna Arctica/ now being prepared in Germany and 

 edited by Dr. Romer and Dr. Schaudinn. The name of the 

 author of the Birds of Arctis is a sufficient guarantee to 

 us that this memoir has been carefully prepared and is well 

 worthy of notice. 



After a well-written Introduction, in which the whole 



