224 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
Catalogue No. 
7. Merula, ‘‘ Leach, 1816” (type, Turdus merula, Linn.). 
The proper generic division of the typical thrushes is a matter of considerable difficulty. 
Of the North American generic groups, Hylocichla and Hesperocichla of Baird are suflici- 
ently isolated, the latter being represented by a single species only, the former by all the 
smaller spotted species, besides the Song Thrush (Turdus musicus, Linn.) of Europe. I find 
no American species agreeing at all.closely with Turdus viscivorus (the type of Turdus) in 
form; and a generic division based whelly or chiefly on coloration being out of the question, 
I find no other alternative than to adopt for the Robin and other American thrushes usually 
referred to “ Planesticus” of Bonaparte (1854) the name Merula, Leach (1816), there being no 
essential difference in form between the type of the latter, Turdus merula, Linn. (Merula 
nigra, Leach) and our Robin (7. migratorius, Linn.); while a number of the Neotropical 
species exhibit the same sexual difference in coloration as 7. merula. I would also refer to 
Merula the following Old World forms: Turdus pilaris, Linn. (type of Arceuthornis, Kaup, 
1829), Turdus atrogularis, Temm. (type of Cichloides, Kaup, 1829), Turdus torquatus, Linn. 
(type of Thoracocincla, Reich., 1850), with perhaps some others. 
9, HESPEROCICHLA, Baird, Review Am. B. i. July, 1864, 32 (type, Turdus nevius, 
Gmel.). 
12. Galeoscoptes, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. 1850, 82 (type, Muscicapa carolinensis, Linn.). 
19. Cinclus, Bechstein, Gemein. Naturg. 1802 (type, Stwrnus cinclus, Linn.). [Cf BArRD, 
Review Am. B. i. 1864, 59, foot-note. ] 
20. Cyanecula, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. 1828 (type, Motacilla swecica, Linn.). 
34, Phylloscopus, Boie, Isis, 1826, 792 (type ?) 
50. AURIPARUS, Baird, Review Am. B.i. Aug. 1864, 85 (type, Dgithalus flaviceps, 
Sundey. ). 
61. THRYOMANES, Sclater, Cat. Am. B. 1861, 22 (type, Troglodytes bewicki, Aud.). 
65. Anorthura, Rennie, Montagu’s Orn. Dict. 2d ed. 1831, 570 (type, 4. communis, 
Rennie = Motacilla troglodytes, Linn.). 
67. Telmatodytes, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. 1850, 78 (type, Certhia palustris, Wils.). 
69. Motacilla, Linneus, 8. N. 1735 (type, MW. alba, Linn.). 
70. Budytes, Cuvier, Reg. An. i. 1817, 371 (type, Motacilla flava, L.). 
76. Helonwa.—Helinaia, Audubon, Synop. 1839, 66 (type, Sylvia swainsoni, Aud.). 
[Orthography emended by AGassizZ, Nomencl. 1847. Cf. Newron, P. Z. 8. 
1879, 552. ] 
90. PERISSOGLOSSA, Baird, Review Am. B. i. 1864, 180 (type, Motacilla tigrina, Gm.). 
92. PEUCEDRAMUS, Coues, in Henshaw’s Orn. Wheeler’s Survey, 1875, 201 (type, Syl- 
via olivacea, Giraud), 
115. Siurus.—Cf. Cours, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. 
124. Wilsonia, Bonaparte, Comp. List. 1838, 23 (type, Sylvia mitrata, Aud.?). [Cf. 
Cougs, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, April, 1880, 95.*] 
131. Cardellina, ‘‘ Dubus”, Bonap. Consp. i. 1850, 312 (type, Cardellina amicta, Dubus = 
Muscicapa rubrifrons, Giraud). 
132. ERGATICUS, Baird, Review Am. B. i. May, 1865, 264 (type, Selophaga rubra, 
Swains. ). 
133. Basileuterus, Cabanis, in Schomb. Guiana, iii. 1848, 666 (type, Sylvia vermivora, 
Vieill.). 
135. Vireosylvia, Bonaparte, Comp. List. 1838, 26 (type, Muscicapa olivacea, Linn.). 
140. LANIVIREO, Baird, Review Am. B. i. May 23, 1866, 345 (type, Vireo flavifrons, 
Vieill.?). 
*It is exceedingly doubtful whether Wilsonia, Bp., should displace Myiodioctes, Aud. Bonaparte’s 
name occurs first in a mere list, is used only asa heading for a subgeneric group, and is unaccom- 
panied either by a diagnosis or an indication of type. Audubon, however, only a year later, in desig- 
nating the same group of birds by the new generic term Myiodioctes, gave an excellent diagnosis of the 
generic characters. It appears to us that the slight difference of date in favor of Bonaparte’s name is 
greatly overbalanced by the pains which Audubon took to duly characterize his genus, thus conform- 
ing to the requirements of nomenclatural laws, which Bonaparte failed to do. 
