^6 Corvespondence. [isf"l"iy 



T Urdus lunnlatus cuncatns, De Vis. 

 ,, „ heinei, Cabanis. 



,, „ lumdatus, Latham. 



,, ,, macrorhynchus, Gould. 



This shows at once that one species of Thrush is recognizable, 

 and that four races inhabiting different areas have been adopted, 

 and that the oldest-named form is lunulatus, Latham. 



The changing of well-known names is, of course, upsetting, but 

 that Australians will refuse to accept them I do not admit. There 

 are many workers sufficiently interested in their avifauna to wish 

 to give every bird its correct name. It is surprising how quickly 

 one takes on a new name. The alterations pointed out liy Sharjic 

 a few years ago are now accepted. 



Now let me explain " virtual tautonymy." The Linnean 

 genera are usually complex, and no indication as to the typical 

 species is evident. Linne himself made it known that the best- 

 known species should be regarded as the type ; but then the 

 question arises. Which was the best-known species of Linne ? 

 The only method of ascertaining the type has hitherto been that 

 of elimination, which, of course, selects the least-known species 

 to Linne. That of necessity proved unsatisfactory, more 

 especially through the fact that Brisson's independent creation 

 of genera influenced later authors. 



Recently, the selection of types by the designation of sub- 

 sequent writers was approved of : but here again nothing satis- 

 factory could be attained. 



When Linne introduced his genera, the birds had been usually 

 known by a single Latin name. Very often previous authors had 

 differed, and two names would be current. Linne strongly 

 objected to the idea of using the same name for the genus and 

 species, or, as we now call it, " tautonymy." Therefore, when 

 he selected for the name of a genus a name previously used for 

 a species, he combined with it a new specific name. When there 

 were two names current he combined the two for his new name. 

 Thus the Wryneck had been known as lynx to some authors, by 

 others it had been called Torqiiilla. Linne made of this bird a new 

 genus, which he called lynx, and the bird itself he called /. tor- 

 quilla. Brisson called his genus Torquilla. 



Instances as simple as the above are rare, but this will show 

 the reasoning simply. 



It is the opinion of the Nomenclatorial Commission that if the 

 species having in its synonymy the same name as Linne's generic 

 name be selected as type it will save much confusion. I am pre- 

 pared to endorse this opinion. 



Thus, Linne created a genus Charadrius, and included a number 

 of species. The species Hiaticula was known previously as 

 Charadrios sen. Hiatimla. I would certainly accept this species 

 as Linne's typical species. It is only reasonable to suppose that 

 Linne was more familiar with this bird than with the bird that 

 has passed duty as type— viz., Pluvialis. That has nothing 



