^°i-92¥^] Camera Craft 229 



necessary. However, that is no reason why the most popular 

 of sciences — ornithology — with its comparatively limited num- 

 ber of species should be so treated and set back. 



The wording of some of the rules might with advantage be 

 amended. Examples — (1) Art. 21. "The author of a scientific 

 name is that person who first publishes the name in connection 

 with an indication, or definition, or a description." To let bed- 

 rock priority rest on a mere "indication" has been the cause of 

 much evil in nomenclature. Therefore the words "an indica- 

 tion" should be expunged from the rule. It seems hardly just 

 that in "an indication" such as "little lighter above," or "much 

 darker below (as the case may be) than so-and-so" with a tri- 

 nomial, the name should take precedence for all time. The 

 description should be scientific, not slovenly. 



(2) Art. 32. "A generic, or a specific, name once published 

 cannot be rejected (even by its author) because of inappro- 

 priateness." Some up-to-date authors read this rule in a nega- 

 tive sense and continue to create inappropriate names. For in- 

 stance, Harriwhitea — a proposed new generic name for the 

 Northern or Albert Lyre-Bird. 



Regarding three similar names — .llistenis, .llistcranus, and 

 AUsterornis — coined by Mr. Mathews for separate Australian 

 genera, and in referring to them I do not intend to disparage 

 that author's work, but merely mention them to stress what 

 may be permitted under the so-called and supposed high author- 

 ity of "The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature" 

 which we are led to believe is "to rescue science from becom- 

 ing a mere chaos of words." 



I am not the only voice "crying in the wilderness." In Eng- 

 land, Mr. Robert Gurney, M.A., F.Z.S., in an ably written ad- 

 dress, "Modern Zoological Nomenclature" (Trans. Norfolk 

 and Norwich Naturalists' vSociety, 1918) has drawn attention 

 to the unworkableness of the International Code. Mr. Gvtrney's 

 paper should be read in its entirety. 



Camera Craft 



The Leaden Flycatcher. — I am sending some nesting pictures 

 of the Leaden-coloured Flycatcher (Myiagra riibccida). The 

 male gave me no trouble, and seemed to trust me perfectly. He 

 came and took up the post as I was focusing on the nest only 

 two feet from the nest, and remained there all the time I was 

 at work. In fact, I had to ask him to leave so as to give me a 

 chance at his mate. The hen bird was quite a different proposi- 

 tion, and I had to wait several days before she gave me my op- 

 portunity. The rate of growth of these little chaps is truly 

 remarkable. In one picture, the male is brooding the young 



birds, which were about two or three days old, and was able to 

 &it right into the nest. Only five days later he was fairly 



