dS THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 



the English language, to make changes which are 

 certain not to be universally adopted." The "if" at 

 the beginning comes in very appropriately — but the 

 premises being false the conclusion must, of course, 

 fall. Mr. Strickland by the last part of the sen- 

 tence clearly labors under the delusion that the 

 improvements made in nomenclature " are certain 

 not to be universally adopted." It has been remark- 

 ed, — "in all tilings the past is the only mirror in 

 which we can see the future." Let us then consult 

 the past and see what is promised for the future. 

 A few years ago the genus Cinclus, universally, even 

 in books — and in the best books too — received the 

 name TVater Ouzel in English, and Merle cPeau in 

 French. Now those erroneous and absurd names 

 have been abandoned, and Dipper in English, and 

 Chicle in French, are every where used. The same 

 may be said of the names Water Hen, Hedge Spar- 

 row, Sea Swallow, Fern Owl, Reed Sparrow, Gold- 

 crested Wren, all of which, (though to the modern 

 Ornithologist it appears almost incredible) were used 

 even by the scientific in the time of Willughby. 

 What says Mr, Strickland next: — : 'The second 

 requisite in scientific nomenclature is, that when 

 once established, it should remain unaltered. Hence 

 I cannot but regard as erroneous the prevailing 

 notion that improved names may be at any time 

 substituted for those which, though already estab- 

 lished, are less appropriate. In naming a new genus 

 or species, for the first time, it is of course desirable 



