IV. n / BRITISH BIRDS. 



changes ill tli'e scientific names hitherto used in the 

 magazine. British birds are best known to British 

 ornithologists by their Enghsh names, and probably to 

 the majority of our readers the scientific names are of 

 no importance, since they know exactly to which bird 

 the English name refers. But ornithology is world-wide, 

 and it is necessary for that reason alone, apart from 

 systematic classification, to employ scientific names. 

 Almost every bird has, unfortunately, been given at one 

 time or another more than one scientific name. It is obvi- 

 ously of the utmost importance that one of these names 

 shall be adopted universally. How else can this desirable 

 end be reached except by the strict adherence to a code 

 of rules having international authority ? These are, 

 in brief, our reasons for having adopted the International 

 Rules, and we are confident that in the near future our 

 brother ornithologists all over the world will look at this 

 question in a broad-minded way, and will cease to insist 

 upon their individual opinions, and will sacrifice their 

 personal convenience, for the benefit of Ornithology. 



The Editors. 

 AprH 20th, 1912. 



