366 Alexander Goodman More. 



i 



ater, and ater has it also over rufus, if the numbers quoted by Pennant 

 from Fauna suecica are right ater No. 2088, 



rufus No. 2089. 



In other cases, where two of Linne's species have been joined together, 

 it does not seem to have been considered an objection that the one 

 definition does not include all varieties, since this must have happened 

 in most cases, and yet a new name was not thought necessary. 



A. ater may be a badly chosen name, but that is not sufficient. 



In botany, we have Silene gallica L., now made to include 

 S. anglica L. 



In birds, we have Sterna anglica for a Tern very rarely seen in 

 England. 



In birds again, Tringa alpina joined to T. cinclus, and T. alpina is 

 retained in preference to " T. variabilis." 



In botany there is a Dock, Rumex sanguineus Linn., which very 

 rarely has red veins, while the green-veined form is common ; yet the 

 Linnaean name sanguineus is retained for both varieties. 



I am sorry that I have so few books here that I cannot enter more 

 fully into the matter, but I do think ater is the right name to use. 



{February 28th, 1891: To Mr. Barrington). I am on the track of a 

 Lesser Kestrel,* which was brought to me in the flesh : said to have 

 been shot near Shankill. If you should hear anything about it please 

 let me know, as 1 want to announce it, if quite true. I am waiting for 

 details, and will let you know when I hear. But why do you not 

 come and see us again ? . . . . Another Surf Scoter, from Achill 

 Island. 



{Same day : To Mr. Sheridan.) Your bird-skins have just arrived, 

 and I make them out to be 



Arctic Tern (immature), 

 Long-tailed Duck (immature), 

 Surf Scoter (immature). 



No wonder the last has puzzled you, as it is imperfectly described in our 

 books, and when I first received one with the two large white spots 

 before and behind the eye I had some trouble with it, but found it 

 described in the American books. This is a great prize, and I daresay 

 one of the best captures you have made in Achill. I hope you have a 



memorandum of the date Does the White -tailed Eagle still 



breed in Achill ? 



{March 2$th, i8qi : To Mr. Ussher.) I have sent a full notice of 

 the Little Kestrel to the " Zoologist." That history is fortunately 



* First occurrence in Ireland ; third in British Islands. 



