Vol. XIV 



i9'5 



J Problems of Nomenclature. 125 



necessary with binomialism. Relationships are thus more easily 

 expressed by a trinomial designation, and well-defined species are 

 not inconveniently combined with local races. Under the 

 trinomial system let us remember that the individual variation of 

 birds of the same species living in the same district does not entitle 

 them to sub-specific rank unless the differential features are 

 constant. We should also bear in mind that birds of the same 

 species inhabiting different areas, exhibiting slight but permanent 

 variable characteristics, rank sub-specifically, and are to be deemed 

 as a representative race. To my mind, the use of the geographical 

 name for sub-species indicates the locality from whence the 

 animal comes, and should, therefore, be universally used for the 

 third word when naming. By subscribing to the International 

 Code of Nomenclature (with some slight modifications as adopted 

 by the British Ornithologists' Union) we will hand down to 

 posterity a unified code of nomenclature, a recognized and 

 universal basis for the future study of the world's aviforms from 

 prehistoric times onward, thus building the house of ornithological 

 knowledge brick by brick. In urging this I am fortified by the 

 following letter received by me from Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant, 

 of the British Museum (Natural History), London : — 



" The committee of the British Ornitliologists' Union hope to issue 

 this autumn a new and revised edition of ' A List of British Birds.' 

 You will then be able to see what course has been adopted in the 

 matter of nomenclature. 



" Article ii. of the rules is adhered to, with some slight modifications. 

 The rules followed by the committee of the B.O.U. are as follows : — 



" That the loth edition of Linnaeus' ' Systema Naturae ' be taken as 

 the basis of priority except — (i.) when it entails the transference of well- 

 known names, either generic or specific, from one species to another, 

 such as Turdus musicus to the Redwing, Chelidoyi to the Swallow, &c. ; 

 (ii.) when it entails the alteration of a name that has been in common 

 use for many years, the changing of which will lead to confusion, such 

 as Ruticilla obscures gibraltariensis for R. tithys and Gavia stellata for 

 Colymbus septentrionales. 



" That in cases where a specific name has been subsequently made 

 into a generic name, such specific name must not be replaced, but must 

 still stand — e.g., Perdix perdix for Perdix cinerea. 



" That under the binomial headings of the species be added in 

 trinomials the names of the races recognized by the committee as 

 occurring in Britain. For the typical race only binomials are used — 

 e.g., Coccothraustes coccothraustes, not C c. coccothraustes. 



" That the secretary be directed to keep a list of the nomina con- 

 servanda, to be printed separately at the end of the general list of 

 British birds." • 



Although the Check-list, based on Gould's classification and 

 binomialism, presented by a committee of the Royal Australasian 

 Ornithologists' Union, is good enough for the present needs of 

 Australian students of ornithology, and will remain, to the more 

 conservative, their text-book for perhaps ten years — a running of 

 the old machinery, so to speak, until the more modern is installed 



