Vo1 - ™ VI l ] Correspondence. 181 



Island, where a species determined as Sula abbotti occurs. This seems an 

 important factor. 



As there can be no difference of opinion as to the fact that Sula piscator 

 (Linne) is an indeterminable mixture I maintain that it cannot be used by 

 any ornithologist who desires accuracy. I have reconsidered the matter 

 in every detail with Messrs. Iredale and Hartert who agree that the resume 

 given in my 'Birds of Australia' is correct and that Sula piscator Linne 

 must be regarded as quite indeterminable. 



Yours etc., Gregory M. Mathews. 

 Foulis Court, Fair Oak, Hants, England. 



Ornithological Pronunciation. 



Editor of 'The Auk': 



May I take a little space in The Auk, to call attention to a matter which 

 is not in itself ornithological, but which it seems to me is of importance to 

 ornithologists? While attending the recent meeting of the A. O. U. in 

 New York I noticed that one word which is liable to be used frequently in 

 ornithological discussions was almost invariably mispronounced. If this 

 were a matter of mispronunciation by one or two individuals I should say 

 nothing, for my own speech is often far from perfect, but it seems to be 

 common to the ornithological profession. Not only humble associates, 

 but members, fellows, some with most enviable reputations, were prone 

 to talk of adult birds when they should have said adult. Only once did I 

 hear the word pronounced correctly in the two days I attended the sessions, 

 and then the speaker, not quite sure of himself said "the adult -er- adult 

 birds." 



I have searched the dictionaries for any authority for the "ornithologi- 

 cal" pronunciation of this word but cannot find it. Perhaps the fact that 

 I am a school-teacher, and continually correcting mispronunciations 

 among the coming generation has made me particular, but I have said 

 what I have, not with the desire to find fault with any individual, but to 

 assist the ornithological profession in efforts to perfect its use of English. 



Aretas A. Saunders. 



143 East Ave., Norwalk, Conn. 



