52 THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 



" Temmink and Stephens, as stated in a former 

 paper, are amongst those Naturalists who have paid 

 most attention to this subject, and I have no doubt 

 but that the generally correct nomenclature of the 

 General Zoology has greatly improved the English 

 nomenclature of birds. Whatever names are adopted 

 in standard Ornithological Works, will of course be 

 used by amateur Naturalists, and finally by the pub- 

 lic. Selby effected several good alterations in 

 English Nomenclature, but he seemed to be labour- 

 ing under the erroneous impression that giving proper 

 names would render his work on British Ornithology 

 unpopular. 



" Leaving this subject to the consideration of your 

 readers, let us just glance at an article on 'Vernacular 

 and Scientific Ornithological Nomenclature,' at p. 305. 

 Not only are the principles inculcated in this paper 

 sound, but they are carried into practice in a manner 

 which has never been equalled. The names there 

 proposed are excellent, and especially that of the 

 Caprimulgus Europeus of Linneus. Your corres- 

 pondent proposes to name it the Fern Nightjar 

 ( Vociferator melolontJba.)" 



" This name is infinitely superior to my name V. 

 Europeus, which besides being rather a vague and 

 inexpressive specific name, is erroneous, as there is 

 another European species, the Rednecked Night- 

 jar C Vociferator rirficollis, mini; Caprimulgus rufi- 

 collis, Tem.) The generic name of Linneus and 

 other authors was, however, what I most objected 



