2726 Birds. 



of course (p. 70) ; Falco Rupicoloides, or the falcon resembling the 

 rock-frequentiny, but not, strictly speaking, the rock-frequenting fal- 

 con more than any other object which may be a frequenter of rocks, 

 the same objection applying here as in the last case (p. 283) ; Tin- 

 nunculus Cenchroides, or the kestrel resembling the Cenchris kestrel 

 (p. 61) ; Pachycephala Lanoides, or the thick-head resembling the 

 butcher-bird (p. 287) ; Dacelo Buccoides, or the Dacelo resembling 

 the Bucco (p. 75) ; Casarea Tadornoides, or the Casarea resembling 

 the shieldrake (p. 299) ; Eurypyga Phalsenoides, or the broad-rump 

 resembling the Phalama (p. 82) ; Podargus Phalsenoides, or the white- 

 foot resembling the Phalaena (p. 290). So far as I am aware, the 

 Phalaena is a kind of moth ; so that the specific designation of these 

 two birds, the one in the genus Eurypyga, the other in the genus 

 Podargus, would be comprised in this, that they have each of them a 

 resemblance to a particular moth. But there are two or three other 

 specific names ending in oides, which are entitled to our notice in a 

 still more particular degree. In his ' Illustrations of the Zoology of 

 the South of Africa,' Dr. Smith has figured and described a new spe- 

 cies of bird, which he entitles Mirafra Africana, and another, also, 

 which he names Mirafra Africanoides (p. 66). Now both these birds 

 are found in Africa, and, so far as is yet known, they are to be found 

 there only ; and, in plain language, it is conceived that the meaning 

 of their names must be, literally and respectively, ' the Mirafra belong- 

 ing to Africa,' and ' the Mirafra belonging to Africa, and resembling 

 the Mirafra belonging to Africa.' It is no great wonder that after the 

 second of these names Dr. Wagner places a note of admiration. In 

 the ' Revue Zoologique,' Lafresnaye has given to a new species of 

 woodpecker, or tree hammerer, the name of Colaptes Mexicanoides. 

 The roots of Mexicanoides are evidently, I should imagine, Mexi- 

 canus, ' of Mexico,' and eidos, ' resemblance ; ' and if the name of 

 this bird is to be taken by itself, and interpreted in its literal and ob- 

 vious meaning, it presents to us, so far as I can see, neither more nor 

 less than the rather unlooked for intelligence that the bird in question 

 is a Colaptes, or tree hammerer, ' having a resemblance to the country 

 of Mexico.' In this case, also, we find appended to the name the 

 Professor's mark of astonishment (p. 292). Lafresnaye, moreover, has 

 bestowed upon a new species belonging to a different genus the de- 

 signation of Saltator magnoides, which, viewed by itself and trans- 

 lated according to the meaning of its component parts, would appear 

 to be capable of no signification save that of ' the dancer,' or ' vaulter, 

 resembling great.' This name is likewise followed by a note of asto- 



