of Long -tailed Titmouse from Asia Minoi\ 97 



tectje. Margo narium annularis, proniinulus. Linguce apex 

 truncatus, setis laceris. Rectrices caudee fere eequales. 

 Digitus cum ungue posticus antico medio cum ungue 

 brevior. 

 " Orites {Parus caudatus, auct.). Rostrum subulatum, subrec- 

 tum, apice incurvo. Nares plumis frontalibus largissime 

 tectse; margo narium planus, vix prominulus. Lingua 

 apex bifidus, segmentis laceris. Rectrices interiores gra- 

 datim multo longiores. Df^fi/MS cum ungue posticus antico 

 medio cum ungue gequalis, vel vix brevior/^ 



What can be more exact, more in the Linnean spirit, than the 

 diagnoses of these two genera ? And to reinstate the name of 

 Orites is the more justifiable, because the usually adopted one 

 of Mecistura, Leach, must give way to that of Acredula, Koch. 

 For these last two generic names were published in 1816; but 

 whilst the former is used only in a list of indigenous birds in 

 the British Museum, without any characters, that of the last- 

 mentioned author is accompanied by a very elaborate diagnosis 

 (see Koch, * System der baier. Zool/ p. 199). 



"^^■^ As we do not now wish to admit into the pages of the 'Ibis^ 

 a discussion on the arid topic of Zoological Nomenclature (that 

 subject being under the consideration of a Committee specially 

 appointed by the British Association), we think it expedient here 

 to mention, we cannot at all agree to the opinion expressed above 

 by our good friend Dr. Giinther. To us it seems only becoming 

 that the Rules recommended by the former Committee on No- 

 menclature should be observed — at least so long as they remain 

 unaltered by the present Committee. These Rules forbid us " to 

 carry back the principle of priority beyond the date of the 13th 

 edition of the ' Systema Naturae ' "*, i. e. 1766. All Mohring's 

 genera are thereby excluded. If, as Dr. Giinther suggests, 

 some of them should be admitted and others not, there will 

 always be a difficulty as to where the line should be drawn. For 



* We are not aware that the fact has been noticed by any writer on 

 nomenclature, but the exception made by the Association Rules in favour 

 of Brisson's genera virtually amounts to no exception at all. ■ The third 

 edition of his work was published in 1788; and being thus subsequent to 

 the appearance of Linnaeus's twelfth edition, the genera defined in it can 

 stand of their own right from that date, under the exact words of the rule. 



N. S. — VOL. I. H 



