THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 51 



former, which has long been most grievously wanted. 

 To say that 'the science of Ornithology does not 

 suffer by this incorrect application of English names,' 

 is evidently erroneous, and requires no comment 

 from me. Mr. Strickland also speaks of * changes 

 which are certain not to be universally adopted.'* 

 One or two instances will prove the groundlessness 

 of this assertion; Cinclus aquaticus was formerly 

 invariably called the " Water Ouzel" and the Pipits 

 (AntJiusJ were termed "Tit Larks;" now, however, 

 the former receives the name Dipper, and the latter 

 of Pipit in Ornithological works ; and rarely do we 

 now meet with the old names in the Natural History 

 periodicals of the day. It is unnecessary to multi- 

 ply instances. 



" The whole use of a system is to facilitate the 

 acquirement of Natural History ; consequently this 

 system should be as simple, and as free from errors 

 as possible, in every part. This is a proposition 

 which, I think, no one will deny, and I consider 

 that the slight alteration in English Nomenclature, 

 proposed by me in a former number (No. X.,) greatly 

 conduces to this important end. If I wished the 

 science to remain stationary, then indeed I should 

 say, leave the names as they are. 



* Happily for the cause of science, our Ornithologists are not of the 

 same opinion as Mr. Strickland. Thus Mudie gives the name 

 Hedge Warbler to the Silvia hippolais, vulgarly Pettichaps ; the 

 translator of Beciistein's Cage Birds uses the name Dunnoc ; and 

 Selby introduces the following new names — Longbeak, ( Macro- 

 ramphus,) Lobefoot (LoUpcs,) Swiftfoot ( Cursorius,) Thick- 

 nee (Edicnemus,) Hareld (Ilarclda,) Garrot (Clangula,) &c." 



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