08 THE MUSCICAPIDJE. 



give that name to the family with great propriety, 

 but if this idea is followed up, and the nomenclature 

 of the genera and suh-families also changed, greater 

 changes still more numerous and still more objec- 

 tionable would follow. Eurylaimus must be changed 

 for Muscicapa, and Muscicapa, as it now stands, 

 should have a new name ! Todus would thus be re- 

 tained only as a genus, and no group would bear 

 such a well known designation as would immediately 

 remind us of birds with syndactyle feet; an idea, 

 Avhich, from long habit, we always associate with 

 words modified from Todus. Under all these dis- 

 advantages to applying a strictly correct and uniform 

 nomenclature, we hope that the generality of orni- 

 thologists will approve of the middle course we have 

 now chosen : that is, of naming the family after tha^ 

 typical group which is the largest and best known 

 in the family, and sinking Todus to its proper level. 

 This plan, after all, is certainly not without objections, 

 but it is attended with fewer alterations of received 

 names than any other we could devise, and it there- 

 fore may be thought the best. On a former occa- 

 sion, some years ago, we designated this family by 

 the name of Todidoe, but it has been represented to 

 us and perhaps with justice, that as the great ma- 

 jority of the birds are the Muscicapidce of all mo- 

 dern systems, whether artificial or natural, it would 

 save much misapprehension if that name was pre- 

 served on the present occasion, and this we have 

 accordingly done. 



The great majority of the flycatchers belong to 



