548 Dr. E. Hartert — Some Anfirriticisms. 



geographical forms I call the first-named one Corvus corax 

 cor ax, repeating the specific term rather than using a new 

 name " typicus " for the same. This is a mere detail and 

 everyone can easily say "■ typicus " instead — my book does 

 not prevent anyone from doing so. But what, again, does 

 Mr. Dresser do? He recognises Corvus corax and Corvus 

 tingitanus, passing over the equally distinct C. hispanus ! 

 That is again erroneous. It is not a question of simpler 

 nomenclature, but a question whether we should study allied 

 forms closely or follow preconceived ideas, uniting most or 

 as many as we please of the geographical forms. 



The Editors of ' The Ibis ' hold me much to blame for 

 preserving the original gender of those specific names which 

 appear in the form of adjectives. In my opinion, the way 

 towards a stable nomenclature is that of preserving the 

 original spelling entirely, and to regard all names merely as 

 names, not as adjectives in connection with the genera as 

 substantives. This will go far towards uniformity. Other- 

 wise there will be more doubtful cases than one may think. 

 There is already a difference of opinion whether substantives 

 like piscator and sibilatrix should alter their gender into 

 piscatrix and sibilator, if connected with a genus of the 

 other gender. Then there are many words the gender of 

 which is doubtful and often wrongly accepted. There is the 

 well-known term Nucifraga, evidently of masculine gender, 

 meaning the Nutcracker, but universally treated as of 

 feminine gender. There is Ammomanes, of Greek derivation 

 (from afjLfxo<i and /xaivofiai), a word ending in 779 and therefore 

 masculine, yet always used as a feminine ; there is Halcyon, 

 generally looked upon as a femininum,yet in the ( Catalogue 

 of Birds ' a masculinum. On the other hand, the gender of 

 most generic names is clear to every schoolboy, and it is an 

 easy matter for all ornithologists who care for it to show 

 that they have been at school and to alter the original 

 gender, as preserved in my nomenclature, in accordance with 

 their classic feelings. My book shews the original spelling 

 of every name, and it is therefore useful to all those who 

 care for strict priority, while nothing prevents those who 



