244 Mr. ViGORs's and Dr. HoRsriELD's Description ofilte 



markings, we must observe, are important ; similar differences 

 form the points of distinction between our European species, 

 M. coUaris, Bechst., and M .africapi/h, Linn. But at present we 

 have not sutKcient grounds for decision on this subject ; the few 

 specimens we have in this countr}- exhibiting much appearance 

 of variation. We therefore merel}' express our doubts. 



We have necessarily adopted Gmelin's name for this spe- 

 cies instead of Dr. Latham's, in as much as the former has 

 the right of priority. Dr. ]jatham, although he described and 

 figured the bird in 1783, did not give it a scientific name 

 until he published his " Tndca Ornitliolog/cus" in 1790, two 

 years after the publication of Gmelin's " Sijsfcma." A line 

 of distinction must be drawn by which we can invariably de- 

 termine the choice of names, where a species or a group has 

 more than one ; and the date of publication seems to be the 

 justest and most uniform ))y which we can be regulated. In the 

 present instance, however, and in many others of a similar de- 

 scription, we have to regret, that whatever credit is due to him 

 who confers a title on a group in nature, — and, trivial as it is, 

 still some little reputation is attached to such points,- —is trans- 

 ferred to the compiler, who puts together without knowledge or 

 discrimination the observations of those who precede him, and 

 thus stamps with his own name the labours of others, in detri- 

 ment to the true naturalist, who Avorks not from books, but 

 studies in nature. 'I'he law, hoAvever, ought to be inflexible : 

 and as such it would be expedient for naturalists not to exhibit 

 the fruit of their labours without at the same time characterizing 

 and naming them. 



In Mr. Caley's M8S. are the following observations on the 

 specimens in our collection. ^'Australasian Jxcdstart . — This is by 

 no means to be called a plentiful bird, and it seems to be scat- 

 tered over a great space of covmtry. In the month of November 



I saw 



