4H0 DR. MURIE ON FREGILUPUS VARIUS. [June 16, 



every other. It is, besides, unobjectionable, while both ' capensis' 

 and madagascariensis are misleading ; for I do not believe the bird 

 ever occurred either at the Cape or in Madagascar — most likely not 

 even in Mauritius or anywhere else but Reunion (olim Bourbon). 

 The Cape locality seems to be in part due to a mistake of De Mont- 

 beillard fostered by Levaillant, who, in such a matter, is universally and 

 properly discredited ; and as for its being found in Madagascar, that 

 notion, I believe, arises from a wrong identification by many authors 

 of Flacourt's 'Tiuouch,' which would appear to be a real Upupa." 

 " There seems no reason why this should not have been the Upupa 

 marginata of Peters, if, indeed, that be distinct from U. epops." 



The several generic and specific names heretofore adopted by 

 ornithologists are regarded by all as synonymous, subsequent writers 

 choosing that most suitable to their views. There is one exception, 

 however, which I cannot pass in silence. Dr. Vinson, in his paper 

 "De l'Acclimatation a l'ile de la Reunion," only trippingly alludes 

 to the disappearance of the bird in question from the island ; but he 

 nevertheless transmutes its scientific cognomen into Fregilupus bor- 

 bonicus, appending his reasons in a footnote, which I give below in 

 full*. Prof. Giebel, however, in the last issue of his in many ways 

 valuable ' Thesaurus ' f, improves the aspect of matters. Under the 

 genus Fregilupus tivo species are duly recorded : — ( 1 ) F. borbonicus, 

 Vinson; (2) F. varius, Gray. This slip is barely excusable in one 

 whose erudition and knowledge of nomenclature should have guided 

 him otherwise. Though possibly justified by supposed better reasons, 

 Sundevall's recent change of generic title into Lophosurus X ( = Crested 

 Starling) is likewise, I think, not entitled to recognition. Although 

 it may be judicious that future names should have proper deriva- 

 tion and be well compounded, yet, if we are pedantically to root up 

 all acknowledged landmarks, we may be lost in the surf-confusion of 

 terms already too nnmerous. Moreover we should not lose sight 

 of the intermediate forms every day encroaching upon and demolish- 

 ing supposititious boundaries not to be girded by mere names. 



The Salient Points of the Skeleton. 



Sterno-costal framework. — The lateral laminae of the double- 

 notched breast-bone are delicate and transparent ; the keel, rostrum, 

 xiphoid bars, and edges of the rest of the bone thicker and more 

 solidified. The notches are fair-sized, the bars only of moderate 

 strength, but very distinctly pedate, and a grade shorter than the 

 mid sternum. The latter is broadish, and abruptly truncate pos- 

 teriorly. The inferior margin of the keel is straight, its anterior 

 border widely bayed, the lower termination being more angular than 



* " C'est a dessein que je specifie la huppe de l'ile Bourbon sous le nom de 

 Fregilupus borbonicus. On ne saurait lui donner avec Reichein [Reichenbach ?], 

 le nom de madagascariensis, puis qu'elle n'a jamais ete trouvee a Madagascar, ni 

 avec Gmelin, celui de capensis, puis que Levaillant affirme qu'elle n'existe pas 

 an cap de Bonne Esperance. Done c'est l'epithete borbonicus, qui seule lui 

 convient." (Bull. Soc. Aoclim. 1868, torn. v. p. 627.) 



t Vol. ii. 1874, p. 192. 



J Forsok till Fogelklassens (Stockholm, 1872), p. 40. 



