V0L f 9 fo XVI1 ] General Notes. 303 



Toxostoma crissalis versus Toxostoma dorsalis . — The current technical 

 name of the Crissal Thrasher is Toxostoma crissalis, but this apparently 

 must be changed. The species was originally described under the 

 name Toxostoma dorsalis by Dr. T. Charlton Henry from a specimen 

 obtained by him at Fort Thorn, New Mexico. This description appeared 

 in the number of the 'Proceedings' of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 

 Philadelphia for May, 1858, on page 117. In the June number of the 

 same publication, pages 117-118 of the May number were reprinted with 

 some typographical changes. Among them the name of Toxostoma dorsalis, 

 was altered to Toxostoma crissalis, under which name the species has 

 since been known. In "Directions to Binder" for Volume 10 (1858) 

 of the above mentioned ' Proceedings' there appears the following state- 

 ment: "Pages 117 and 118 in the April and May numbers to be cancelled, 

 and pages 117 and 118 at the close of the June number substituted for 

 them." This name, Toxostoma dorsalis, evidently was intended to appear 

 originally as Toxostoma crissalis, but the former has priority of publica- 

 tion. It is merely a mistake involving the use of another and entirely 

 different word, not a typographical error, and was not corrected in the 

 original publication, but at least a month later. Therefore, since mis- 

 takes in the original publication of scientific names can not be altered, 

 this name, Toxostoma dorsalis, can not for this reason be rejected in favor 

 of Toxostoma crissalis, as Toxostoma dorsalis is apparently not preoccupied 

 or otherwise untenable. We must therefore call the Crissal Thrasher 

 Toxostoma dorsalis. 



In connection with the use of the generic name Toxostoma, it might 

 be well to note that this word is not of neuter gender as currently used, 

 but feminine, since its terminal element is an appelative noun, and, there- 

 fore, must be either masculine or feminine, whichever the original em- 

 ployer of the name may determine — in this case, feminine. — Harry C. 

 Obkrholser, Washington, D. C. 



The Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa) in Eastern Penn- 

 sylvania. — On October 6, 1919, Mr. James R. Gillen saw a strange bird 

 on the ground, near Lansdale, Pa., which in a general way reminded him 

 of a Horned Lark, although he recognized it as something different. Pro- 

 curing a gun, he shot it and presented it to his father, Mr. Thomas S. 

 Gillen, who mounted it and added it to his collection. Being anxious 

 to ascertain what sort of bird he had found, Mr. Gillen described it to me, 

 and I at once suspected that it might be a Wheatear. Showing him a 

 tray of skins containing some of this species he immediately picked out 

 a female in winter plumage as the exact counterpart of the bird he had 

 shot. 



Thanks to Mr. Thomas S. Gillen, the specimen was later exhibited at 

 a meeting of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, and its identity 

 confirmed. This is the first record of the occurrence of the Wheatear 



