158 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol; ,IV. 



L. argentatus Pontopp. The latter name, of course, is pre- 

 occupied in Hartert's usage. We may note that we have seen 

 a very large Common Gull procured in Britain which may 

 have to be considered in connection with this race. 



Sitta affinis Blyth. 



In the Journ. Asiatic Soc. Bengal for the year 1846, p. 289, 

 Blyth named the British Nuthatch, Sitta affinis. This was 

 definitely stated after pointing out the differences between the 

 British and Swedish examples. Over sixty years afterward, 

 this name having been ignored or overlooked, Hartert named 

 the British bird Sitta casia hritannica, and this name has been 

 used by those workers recognising the British race. Of course, 

 now it has been recognised, Blyth's name, Sitta ccesia affinis, 

 must be used as we do not find it to be preoccupied. 



Some Lark Names. 



In the B.O.U. List for the Short-toed Lark, Calandrella 

 brachydactyla (Leisler 1812) is used, and for the White-winged 

 Lark, Melanocorypha sihirica (Gmelin 1789) is maintained. 

 While the latter must be altered, it is probable that the former 

 also needs rectification. The facts with regard to the latter 

 are simple. In 1786 Sparrman figured the Black Lark in the 

 Mus. Carlson, pi. xix., under the name Tanagra sihirica ; 

 some years previously Forster had named the same species 

 Alauda yeltoniensis 1768, consequently Sparrman's name 

 became a homonym. In 1789 Gmelin appUed the name 

 Alauda sihirica to the White- winged Lark and this name has 

 been recently used. It is, however, invahdated by Sparrman's 

 proposal, as the two species are strictly congeneric. Reversion 

 to Pallas's name leucoptera, which agrees with the vernacular, 

 seems to be necessary, and the name Melanocorypha leucoptera 

 (Pallas 1827, Alauda) should be resumed. 



In the case of the Short-toed Lark, Vieillot pointed out 

 over one hundred years ago that Alauda fringillaria Hermann, 

 Obs. Zool., p. 201, 1804, referred to this species. The name 

 has priority, so that if the identification be correct, as it 

 seems to be, the name must become Calandrella fringillaria 

 (Hermann 1804, Alauda). 



