iSSj.] Stejneger, Analecta Orntthologica. c\ 



XXIII. Remarks on the Generic Name Sayomis and 

 on Sayomis phcebe. 



Sayomis, as composed of the name Say and amis* may be 

 either masculine or feminine, for we find both d 6'pvis and rj 6'pvis- 

 It might perhaps be urged that the addition of Thomas Say's 

 name makes the gender masculine, but holding that the author 

 who first indicated the gender is entitled to settle the question, I 

 contend that Sayomis is feminine. Bonaparte, when establish- 

 ing the name (Coll. Delattre, 1854, p. S7 ; I can find no other or 

 earlier reference) gave no clue, as he combined it with the spe- 

 cific name nigricans, but Sclater who next adopted the term, in 

 1S55, indicated his preference by writing Sayomis ardosiaca 

 (P. Z. S., 1855, p. 149), and has consistently followed this course 

 in all his later writings. 



As to the specific names of the North American species, I have 

 to remark that Gmelin's name A/uscicapa fttsca cannot stand for 

 the Pewee, as not less than two other authors, independent of 

 each other, had disposed of that name for two other birds previ- 

 ous to 17S8. Nor can the same author's Muscicapa atra be em- 

 ployed, for a similar reason, as is apparent from the subjoined 

 synonymy. The next name in order seems to be Latham's 

 M. phoebc, which will give us the name Sayomis phcebe, a very 

 fortunate change, when change must be made ! 



The synonomy will stand thus : 



R. 315. Sayomis phcebe {Lath.). Phcebe ; Pewee. 



Muscicapa carolinensis fusca, Brisson, Orn. II, p. 367 (1760). 

 Dusky Flycatcher, Pennant, Arct. Zool. II, p. 389 (1785). 

 1788. — Muscicapa fusca Gmelin, S. N. I, p. 931 (based on Briss. I.e. ; 

 nee Muller, 1776, qua? PI. Enl. 568 fig. 2; nee Boddaert, 

 1783, qua; PI. Enl. 574 tig. 1). 

 17SS. — Muscicapa atra Gmelin, S. N. I, p. 946 (based on Pennant, 



1. c. ; nee Muller, 1776, quae PI. Enl. 572 fig. 3). 

 1790. — Muscicapa phcebe Latham, Ind. Orn. II, p. 489 (based on Pen- 

 nant, 1. c.). 

 1S10. — Muscicapa ?iunciola Wilson, Am. Orn. II (p. 78, pi. xiii, fig. 4.). 



XXIV. On the proper Generic Name of the Pile- 

 ated Woodpecker and Allies. 



The generic name Hylotomus for the Pileated Woodpecker 

 cannot stand, because preoccupied by Hylotoma Latreille 



