^8 DoRAN, Vernacular Names of Birds. VlL-a 



THE VERNACULAR NAMES OF BIRDS. 



BY EDWIN W. DORAN, PH. D. 



Both the general public and professional ornithologists con- 

 stantly make use of the vernacular names of birds. This statement 

 is also true of nearly all forms of animal life which are of any 

 economic importance. In fact, vernacular names are perhaps 

 more often employed even by scientists than formerly, and the 

 subject is one of growing importance. 



Since this is true, it is important, first, that these vernacular 

 names be correct, that is, formed in accordance with some 

 established principles of construction ; and, secondly, that the 

 same name be always applied to a particular species. Though 

 there will generally be several names in use for our commoner 

 animals, especially our game-birds, the same name ought not to be 

 applied indiscriminately to several different birds, as is often done. 

 There ought to be some means of knowing also just what animal 

 is designated by any particular vernacular name: or there ought 

 to be in convenient form for reference a list of all the commoner 

 names applied to any particular species. The whole subject of 

 vernacular names ought to be put upon a scientific basis. 



These considerations have led the writer to undertake the 

 preparation of a work which shall give (i) the vernacular name 

 of every bird found in North America, written in correct form, 

 with special reference to the proper compounding of names ; ^ and 

 (2) a synonymy of all the vernacular names, with the most 

 common, or most suitable one indicated. This is intended to 

 secure uniformity in writing the common, or popular, names, 

 especially as to the correct compounding of the words ; and also 

 to secure, as far as possible, the adoption of a single suitable 

 name for each bird, or at most a limited number of well-selected 

 names. Many birds, especially game-birds, have from five to 

 twenty names, some even more than fifty names. This multiplicity 

 of names produces great confusion. 



' The author has prepared also a work on ' The Compound Vernacular 

 Names of Insects.' See article in ' Entomological News ' for Nov., 1902. 



