on Mr. G. R. Gray's * Genera of Birds. ^ 39 



that this bird was the Tringa lobata, Gm. The specific name %oil- 

 soni. Sab., seems to be next in priority, and should therefore stand. 



Is Steganopus, \'ieill., prior to Holopodius, Bon. ? 



The family Palamedeidce will probabh" require to be remodelled. 

 Although not prepared to go into details at present, I think it pro- 

 bable that the Parrina; and P(ilaniedei?icE would be better arranged 

 under Rallidte, and Megapodinee divide^ between the Thirdidce and the 

 Cracidce. 



P. 71. The earliest specific name of Menuru, is superba, given by 

 Davies in the Linnean Transactions in 1800. 



The term Ortygometra, or " Mother of the Quails," was an old 

 name applied by Aristotle, Aldrovandus, Ray and Brisson to the 

 Corn Crake ; therefore, when Bechstein divided these short-beaked 

 Rails from the rest of the genus Rallus, no term could have been 

 more appropriate ; but unfortunately he neglected to use it, and 

 preferred the term Crex. Now as Bechstein was the first to define 

 the genus, the name Crex must be retained, and Ortygometra can- 

 celled, since it would not be correct to retain the latter (as Bona- 

 parte does) for the remaining group (Porsawa, Vieill.), in Avhich the 

 Corn Crake is not included. 



The name Ocydromus anstralis (Sparm.) has the priority of pub- 

 lication over 0. troglodytes, Gm. 



P. 72. The genus Gallinula was founded by Latham. 



The Heliornince would, I think, enter more naturally among the 

 ColymbidcE than among the Rallidce, though they certainly connect the 

 two groups. 



The Phanicopterince ought not to be included in the Anatidce. 

 They surely form too m\rked a group to be placed on a par with the 

 subdivisions of Linneeus's geaus Anas. They should rather be made 

 into a distinct family, and be placed near the Ardeadce, to some 

 of which (Platalea and Ibis) they show an affinity in the scarlet 

 plumage, a colour wholly unknown among the Anatidce. 



P. 73. Chloephaga should be written Chlo'ephaga. 



The genus Bernicla, " Briss.," was founded by Stephens, 1824, 

 and Cygnus, "Briss.," by Vieillot, 1816. 



P. 74. Querquedula owes its foundation as a genus to Stephens, 

 1826. 



To the synonymes of Micropterus cinereus add Oidemiapatachonica, 

 King. 



Oidemia should be written CEdemia. Add to its synonymes Ma- 

 ceranas. Less. 



To the synonymes of Somateria add Platypus, Brehm. 



The genera Fuligula and Harelda were first published by Ste- 

 phens, 1824. 



For Kamptorhynchus write Camptorhynchus . 



P. 76. The Mergidte should not be regarded as a distinct family 

 from the Anatida ; they are only narrow-beaked Ducks, forming a 

 subfamily allied to Fuligulince. 



For Podicepsinee write Podicipince. 



It surely savours of hypercriticism to divide the Little Grebes 

 (Sylbeocyclus, Bon.) from Podiceps. 



