Vol l906 ln ] Correspondence. 245 



pterylographers the world round knew of those little naked places over 

 the tops of the eyes in swifts. Personally, I have yet to find a hum- 

 mingbird wherein the skin covering the pinion is black, and as this 

 communication goes to press, I have examined an excellent specimen of 

 Trochilus colubris, and it possesses no such character. Everyone knows, 

 who knows anything of the subject at all, that it is present in swifts. 



R. W. Shufeldt. 

 6th January, 1906. 



A Suggestion. 



To the Editors of 'The Auk': — 



Dear Sirs: — During the revision of the A. O. U. Check-List I trust that 

 the common names will not be entirely neglected. Most of the names in 

 the last edition are well chosen and have stood the test of time, but a few 

 appear to be either inappropriate or else a trifle bookish. As an example 

 of a 'bookish' name the word "partridge" may be cited. Neither orni- 

 thologists or sportsmen employ this word in the A. O. U. sense. In speak- 

 ing of species of Oreortyx, Lophortyx, Callipepla, and Cyrtonyx, they, of 

 course, use "quail." Our western members may not know that Bonasa 

 is commonly called "partridge" from New England to Pennsylvania, 

 while the same name is applied to Colinus in the South. Hence we have 

 a curious confusion of terms. I wish to propose that "quail" be sub- 

 stituted for "partridge" in the next check-list. I have heard the objec- 

 tion raised that these birds are not true quail, but as they are not true 

 partridges, this fact may be cheerfully overlooked. 



Names which can be improved upon are such as Louisiana Tanager, 

 Arkansas Kingbird, Arkansas Goldfinch, and possibly a few others with 

 inappropriate geographical handles. Western Tanager has been in liter- 

 ature for fifteen years and is a better name. I leave the others to the 

 tender mercies of a committee. 



In California the Mountain Qviail of nearly all sportsmen and bird men 

 is Oreortyx pictus plumiferus, called Plumed Partridge in the Check-List. 

 Why not change things about and call pictus, Harlequin or Painted Quail, 

 and place Mountain Quail where it belongs? Geographical names are 

 becoming more popular (and are more useful) than personal names. Hence 

 we now frequently see Sierra Junco, instead of Thurber Junco. This com- 

 mendable practice could be extended advantageously. Mr. Grinnell in 

 describing Pants rufescens barlowi had to rename neglectus, which he called 

 Marin Chickadee. Mr. Ridgway has unfortunately discarded this for 

 Nicasio Chickadee — unfortunately, because Nicasio is only a very little 

 town that is not likely to last a great while, whereas Marin County, Cali- 

 fornia, covers most of the range of neglectus. There are other slight 

 changes, "mere details" perhaps, but wise men tell us that only through 

 attention to details shall we arrive at perfection. 



My idea has been to make the suggestion rather than to furnish specific 

 cases for its application. 



Stanford University, Cal. Walter K. Fisher. 



