I9I9-1 Letters, Extracts, and Notes. 369 



by common consent and custom liavc been fixed so that 

 ornithologists for generations have used the specific name 

 musicus for the Song-Thrus^li and iliacus for the Redwing, 

 it cannot be disputed, when a strict regulation of the 

 nomenclature according to tlie law of priority is observed, 

 that the current usage is incorrect. 



The best course would, no doubt, l)e that both these 

 names by international consent should be declared as 

 "nomiiia conservanda/' but at the present time there is 

 not much hope tor such an agreement. 



The present state of affairs is rather a deplorable confusion. 

 For the Song-Thrush alternatively are used the following 

 names : — 



Tardus musicus Linn. 

 Tardus iliacus Linn. 

 Tardus philomelus l>rehm. 

 For the Redwing : — 



Tardus iliacus Linn. 

 Turdus musicas Linn, 

 This is the more confusing, as for both species both 

 names are used with the name of Linnajus as authoi-. If it 

 is found imijossible to fix the names formerly used for these 

 species as " nomina conservanda,'''' I think the only Avay out 

 of the confusion would be to discard both names (inusicus as 

 -weW di^ iliacus), and call the Song-Thrush Tardus philoinelus 

 Brehm, and the Kedwing Tardus mauvis 1*. L. S. Miiller. 

 If the Gordian knot cannot be solved, it is better to have it 

 cut than to have it as a cause of peruianent discord. 



Yours truly, 

 Riksmuseet, EiNAil LJJNNBlilUi. 



Stockliolm. 

 ISFobniary, 191 i). 



The Indian Peregrine Falcon, 



Dear Sir, — With reference to the letters of Messrs. H. 

 Whistler and E. C. Stuart Baker on the Indian Peregrine 

 Falcon, the following notes ol" mine may help to solve the 

 question. 



I have a great personal knowledge of the North-West 



