The Zoologist — September, 1871. 2749 



the left-hand page, and the name of the bird at the head of the 

 right-hand page ; thus — 



ACCIPITRES. I FALCO TINNUNCULUS. 



And the pagination, if needed at all, transferred to the foot, where 

 it would not attract and thereby misdirect observation, and would 

 certainly be preferable to six hundred repetitions of page 2 and sis 

 liundred of page 3, at the heads of the pages. However, ia a word, 

 it may be said that all inconsecutive pagination is objectionable — 

 a nuisance to the printer, the binder, and the reader. 



On the other hand, one inestimable advantage of comprehensive 

 works like these is, that they demonstrate the folly and futility of 

 modern genera. Generic nomenclature has become an Augean 

 stable which will require a Hercules to cleanse and purify. At 

 present the hero of the Science is not he who makes the most dis- 

 coveries, or he who solves doubtful questions of food, economy, 

 plumage, or migration, but he who invents the greatest number of 

 names, the longest names, and the ugliest names. We find young 

 ornithologists speaking with " bated breath" of men who can invent 

 such words as Thrysaetos, Herpetotheres, Ichthyiaetos, Hypo- 

 triorchis, Gampsonyx, Polyboroides niadagascarensis, Batrachos- 

 tomus, Synthliborhamphus, Rhinopomastes, Ptilonorhynchus, 

 Ochetorynchus, Malacorhynchus, Jacamaralcyon, Brachypteracias, 

 or Ceratoblepharum. Only think of a robin or a wren receiving such 

 names as these, either of which dear little birds is liable to this in- 

 dignity ; but the 'triumph of modern name-giving is to give a dozen 

 or twenty names to one individual. Our authors give every synonym, 

 and thus we shall see to what an extent this insane passion for 

 name-changing has been carried ; and it may be observed that they 

 themselves have shown remarkable reticence in this respect, not 

 having added a single generic name of their own, so far as I have 

 yet ascertained, a reticence which I fear will find scant favour in 

 the eyes of erudite subscribers. The beautiful tufted duck is the 



Anas Stelleri of Pallas. 



Clangula Stelleri of Boie. 



Fuligula dispar of Stephens. 



Macropus Stelleri of Nuttall. 



Stellaria dispar of Bonaparte. 



Polysticta Stelleri of Eyton. 



Eniconetta Stelleri of Gray. 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. VI. 2 X 



