on Mr. G. R. Gray’s ‘ Genera of Birds.’ 413 
with the exception that we are here enabled to go one step 
further back, and to extend the benefit of the law to Brisson. 
An author cannot be cited as the authority for a generic name, 
unless he uses it in a generic sense. Now zoologists had no 
distinct notion of a genus before the time of Linnzus and 
Brisson ; and, therefore, although the names used by antece- 
dent authors may often be applied with propriety to modern 
genera, yet in such cases they acquire a new meaning, and 
should be quoted on the authority of the first person who used 
them in this secondary sense. The so-called generic names of 
Ray, for instance, are only appellations of species derived, in 
most cases, from his predecessors ; and if we apply the rule of 
priority to them we ought also to quote the names of Aristotle 
and Pliny as authorities for almost every genus of Linnzus. 
Thus the names Puffinus and Locustella, though applied by 
Ray to certain species of birds, were first used as genera by 
Brisson and Gould respectively, and should therefore be 
quoted on the authority of these authors. Linnzus and Bris- 
son appear to be the earliest writers who ought to be cited as 
authority for the genera of birds. Brisson’s generic defini- 
tions are perfectly regular and systematic, and all those of his 
genera which are additional to those of Linnzus, may there- 
fore be quoted on his authority. These Brissonian genera are 
as follows:—Gallus, Perdix, Aquila, Asio, Coracia*, Pica, 
Garrulus, Nucifraga, Promerops, Carduelis, Coccothraustes, 
Colius, Pyrrhula, Polytmus, Galbula, Rupicola, Momotus, 
Rhea, Casuarius, Himaniopus, Vanellus, Arenariat, Glareola, 
Limosa, Ciconia, Scopus, Balearica, Cariama, Porphyrio, Gal- 
linula, Phalaropus, Colymbus{, Fratercula, Spheniscus, Ca- 
tarrhactes, Puffinus, Stercorarius, Anser, Sula, Phalacrocorax 
and Corrira. It is important to attend to this list, because 
it has been customary to quote Brisson as an authority for 
many other genera which he never defined, but only attached 
their designations to certain species. The names so used by 
Brisson are in the same predicament with those of Ray, Al- 
drovandus, or Pliny ; they are merely arbitrary or vernacular 
appellations of species, but do not become generic titles till 
properly defined as such. On this principle the genus Buteo, 
e. g., should be regarded as founded not by Brisson but by 
Bechstein, who should therefore be cited as the author of it. 
* This name being too near in sound to Coracias, Lin., is susperseded by 
Cuvier’s name Fregilus. 
+ The name 4renaria being used by Linneus in botany, the genus now 
stands as Strepsilas, Ill. 
t This genus is now called Podiceps, Lath., the name Colymbus being 
given by Linnzus to a different genus. 
