ifflOTES 



THE WOOD-PIGEON "DIPHTHERIA." 



In our issue for December last (p. 214) we asked our readers' 

 co-operation in a third enquiry into the Wood-Pigeon disease. 

 A schedule was affixed to the cover of each copy of that issue, 

 and it was asked that our readers would fill up the schedule 

 with all the observations made up to the middle of March. 

 We particularly request every reader to fill up the schedule, 

 whether Wood-Pigeons have been numerous or not, or whether 

 the disease has been present or not in his district. 



Eds. 



STRICTEST PRIORITY IN NOMENCLATURE. 



In the last number of British Birds (p. 299) the Editor 

 wrote a note against strict priority in nomenclature. Needless 

 to say I do not agree with him. For twenty years I have 

 earnestly considered the question of nomenclature in ornitho- 

 logy, and have discussed it at various annual meetings of the 

 German Ornithological Society and at two Congresses, and 

 I have, perhaps, written more long and short articles on the 

 question than any other living ornithologist, though most of 

 them may not have been read by British birdmen, being 

 written in German. The gratifying result of my endeavours 

 is that strictest priority is now generally adopted and followed 

 not only in America — where it was done before — but also in 

 Europe. " Nomenclature " is a necessary evil. Experience 

 has shown that only one way leads out of the present un- 

 certainty and instability (compare Seebohm's, Saunders', 

 Dresser's, and Sharpe's works on British and European 

 birds !), viz., strict priority. Nobody can deny that we must 

 once reach finality if the oldest name is used without 

 exception. That this end is speedily approached is evident 

 to all who want to see it, thanks to the exertions of those who 

 have the means and literary knowledge to examine the rights 

 of early names. The Editor of British Birds considers 

 that their energy " could be much more profitably employed," 

 but I think that men like Professor Lonnberg, Hellmayr, 

 Richmond, Oberholser, myself and others know themselves 

 best how to employ their time. Mr. Witherby does not 

 do a good service to the memory of our deceased friend 



