100 CoUES on the Nomenclature of North American Birds. 



Pigeon. In 1766, Linnasus drops the name macroura, and substitutes for 

 the Wild Pigeon two names: first, canadentiis (Brisson, p. 118); and 

 second, migraloria (based on Frisoh, Kalm, Brisson, p. 100, and Catesby, 

 pi. 23). He also at same date twice names the Carolina Pigeon ; first, 

 carolinensis, and, second, mnrginafa, the latter being primarily based on 

 Edwards, pi. 15. We have all properly adopted the name carolinensis for 

 the Zenaidura, as it comes first on Linnaeus's page (No. 37), though the 

 description of marginnta (No. 40) is the best one. But have we properly 

 adopted migratorius for the Eclopistes (No. 36, on p. 285), as being the 

 best described, since canadensis (No. 30, on p. 284) comes first on Lin- 

 naeus's page, and is really " prior" to ?nt^raton'us? Strict adherence to 

 the law of priority, which we have followed in using Zenaidura carolinensis 

 for the CaroRna Dove, would require us to use Ectopistes canadensis for 

 the Wild Pigeon. Is it worth while to make the change ? Cases like this 

 make one wish that there were in our nomenclature some " law of limita- 

 tion," by which a name which has not been challenged for, say, fifty years 

 or a century, might then acquire an inalienable right to recognition. In 

 default of any such rule, Ectopistes canadensis becomes in strictness the 

 tennble name of the Wild* Pigeon. 



Engyptila albifrons {Bp.) Coues. When I lately proposed yEckmo- 

 piila, g. n. ince Leptoptila preoccup., I overlooked the fact that Sundevall 

 had already substituted Engj/plila for the same genus, and for the same 

 reason (Tentamen, 1872, p. 156). 



3 79«. Meleagris gallopavo americana (Bartr.) Coues. This would 

 appear to be the correct name for our Wild Turkey, and I have it so in 

 the check list. It is true that Bartram called it occidentalis on an earlier 

 page of the work in which he named it americana ; but such name is 

 geographically false as applied to the Eastern Turkey in distinction from 

 the Western one. I bring up this case, however, chiefly to call attention 

 to a hitherto neglected synonym of the bird. For Barton, in 1805, clearly 

 distinguished two species of Turkey, calling the Eastern Wild Turkey 

 Meleagris palawa (Med. and Phys. Journ., II, 1805, p. 163). 



429. Liniosa heemastica (Linn. 1758) Coues. This is the second case 

 of the kind. The Scolopax hannastica, Linn., 1758, is based upon Edwards, 

 pi. 138, that is, upon the Hudsonian Godwit, L. hudsonica of authors. 



437. Machetes pugnax (L.) Cuo. Moehring's names not being 

 available, Cuvier's genus Machetes should replace PhilomacJius. 



438. Bartramia longicauda (Bechst.) Coues. The genus Bartramia, 

 Less., 1831, holds priority over Actidurus, Bp., 1832. It has been rejected 

 on account of the prior botanical genus of same name ; but my present 

 ruling obliges me to recognize it in zoology. Thei'e are various specific 

 names for the bird, the earliest of which I have any knowledge being 

 longicauda of Bechstein, 1802, in his German version of Latham, Bd. IV, 

 Th. n, p. 453. 



445. Plegadis falcinellus {L.) Set. and Salu. Ibis being shown to be 



