42 THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 



convey an erroneous notion. Sparrow, Pinnoc, 

 Ouzel, Abern,* Lark, Siskin, &c., &c., have no 

 meaning, but no one objects to them as generic 

 appellations — it is such names as Goatsucker, Tit- 

 mouse, Sapmcker, &c, that are objectionable, and 

 ought to be altered. Mr. Strickland then says, 

 " for these reasons I must still continue to prefer the 

 term M. alba to either M. lotor or M. maculosa, and 

 to call the Goatsucker Caprimulgus, instead of 

 either Nyctichelidon or Vociferator." In other 

 words, he will prefer continuing in error, even after 

 he has been convinced that what he defends, is error, 

 to investigating and adopting Avhat is right — so be 

 it, and let us see what others say. In a very pret- 

 tily written work by Emily Taylor lately published 

 — the Boy and the Birds, in which the latter are 

 supposed to relate their history to the former — the 

 Nightjar speaks as follows : — " I am anxious to have 

 a pla.ce among the buds whom you are catechising 

 about their history and habits, for though I am happy 

 to say people are beginning to open their eyes to my 

 true character, and I constantly hear my innocence 

 of all bad propensities asserted by competent per- 

 sons, my race have had a very long struggle for 

 common justice. It is hardly half a century since 

 one Mr. White, of Selburn, protested that we were 

 utterly incapable of doing the mischief imputed to 



* Sei.by calls the species which visits Britain, the " Alpine 

 Neophron," but, it is objectionable to use Latin names in English : 

 this species might be called the Alpine Abern (Neophron aljj'uins.) 



