No. 6.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 153 



to the practised eye. The subtle errors we do not profess to 

 discuss at this opportunity, but simply put forward matters 

 apparently requiring adjustment. We take this course of 

 publicity as the field is more or less novel to us, and extra 

 criticism may assist before the final discussion as to the 

 validity of these matters. 



Anas rufa Linne 1761. 



In the second edition of the Fauna Suecica (pref. date 

 July 28), 1761, is a Faunula Suecica which gives binomial 

 names for the species treated in the work, with citations 

 referring to first edition of the Fauna Suecica, thus — 



Under the genus Anas is quoted : 



133. obscura, 110. 



134. rufa, 112. 



Upon reference to page 47 we find No. 133 fully described 

 with a reference to No. 110 of the first edition, and also No. 134 

 with a reference to No. 112 of the first edition. The latter is 

 the one here discussed and the data reads : 



" No. 134. Anas rufa, rostro pedibusque cinereis. Fn. 

 112 t Rudb. pict. 



Habitat in fluviis rarior, nee mihi unquam obvia." 



This proposition does not seem to have been seriously 

 considered, as Gmelin (Syst. Nat., p. 528, 1789) under his 

 Anas ferrttginea records "Anas rutila Fn. suec, n. 134." It 

 has also otherwise been regarded as synonymous with this 

 species, but such a conclusion necessitates its acceptance as 

 the species name for the Duck now known as Nyroca nyroca 

 (Gueldenstadt 1769), and which would therefore have to be 

 called 



Nyroca rufa (Linne 1761) 



Scolopax minima Briinnich 1764. 



The neglect of tliis name has puzzled us considerably. 

 As a synonym of the Jack Snipe, L. gallinula (Linne 1766) 

 has been commonly and continually cited since the days of 

 Gmelin (1789, p. 662) Briinn. orn. n. 163. Briinnich, however. 



