■5t8 Mathews, Alterations in Nomeiiclatuye. \ ,^'1'" ■, 



3 ' List April 



the nomenclature is the acceptance of the laws formulated by the 

 International Congresses of Zoologists. My resolve to endeavour 

 to establish the nomenclature of the Australian avifauna upon 

 a secure basis has entailed a tremendous amount of research 

 work, and until my work is completed I cannot promise even an 

 approach to finality. I am desirous of accurately fixing the 

 specific appellation of each bird, and am sparing no time and 

 method to obtain this result. I do feel that, when I have com- 

 pleted my work, the nomenclature therein accepted will, in the 

 main, be that which will stand the test of time. 



With regard to the genera, it soon became obvious to me that 

 too much splitting had been done. Dr. Hartert, of Tring, has led 

 the way in the non-recognition of such genera as almost require 

 a microscope for theii^ detection. ]\Iy own experience has led me 

 to endorse Dr. Hartert's views, and I am suppressing many of 

 the genera I recognized in my " Handlist." I anticipate that 

 later I shall not maintain some of those at present included : but 

 the question of generic rank is not one that can be settled off- 

 hand. The generic names I herewith reject are only such as I 

 am absolutely satisfied (from examination of abundant material) 

 are unnecessary for exact working. I believe that the elimination 

 of these superfluous generic names will lead to the better grasp 

 of the realities of the Australian fauna. 



As to the spelling of generic names, I am only accepting the 

 original name as written by its author at its introduction. I 

 have experienced the vagaries of emendation, and also the foibles 

 of the would-be amender, and cannot countenance any correction 

 save such as was made by the author in the same article or work 

 as the name first appeared in. The recognition of later so-called 

 improvements allows of irregularities, and affects, to a great 

 extent, the stabilit}^ of our nomenclature. The acceptance of 

 the changes herein indicated in the forthcoming " Checklist " 

 will greatly aid in the production of a stable code. I do not in- 

 clude the avifaunas of Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, as these 

 certainly are not Australian. 



I'AGE 



5. Genus I. — Dromaius is the original spelling. 



Species 3. — D. parvnlus, Gould, replaces D. peroni, Roths- 

 child. 



Species 3A. — Add D. minor, Spencer. 



Genus II. — The authority for Casuarius is Latham. 



Species 4. — C. johnsoni, Muller, replaces C. australis. Wall, 

 (preoccupied). 



6. Genus III. — The authority for Megapodiiis is Temminck. 

 Genus IV. — Leipoa is the original spelling. 



Genus V. — Alectura, Latham, replaces Catheturus, Swainson. 



7. Genus VII. — Synoicus is the original spelling. 

 Species 12. — Omit ; is not Australian. 



8. Genus XII. — Ptilinopus is the original spelling. (Ptilopus is, 



moreover, preoccupied.) 



