62 THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 



certainly more numerous and at least not less striking 

 than those of agreement. The Dartford Warbler is 

 one of those bhxls of which the habits require to be 

 more carefully studied ; and when that has been 

 done, and an arrangement of birds founded on their 

 structure, haunts, and habits comes to be formed, it 

 will probably be found advisable to drop the name, 

 both parts of which are calculated to mislead." — 

 Feath. Tribes, vol. I, p. 308. Some have proposed 

 to substitute Wren for Warbler, but this is still 

 worse, for the bird is more dissimilar from Anorthura 

 than Silvia. The name previously given, Redeyed 

 Whinling, is one, I think, to which no one can ob- 

 ject. Again Mudie says : — "The Reed Bunting 

 sometimes, though improperly, called the 'Reed 

 Sparrow,' is a bird which has been confounded by 

 authors, if not by observers, with another bird to 

 which it has little other resemblance than their both 

 inhabiting nearly the same places ; (the Sedge Reed- 

 ling.") The Reed Bunting is almost invariably 

 called by the common people " Reed Sparrow" but 

 an author who should adopt this incorrect name on 

 that account would be much to blame. It is indeed 

 true, as Mudie remarks :— " Names that have no 

 precise meaning may be used in any way ; but error 

 is always the consequence of an unskilful use of 

 significant ones." However Mr. Strickland may 

 argue for the mere sound, his attempts will be vain to 

 prevent rational beings from inquiring into the sense. 

 I shall here make another extract from the Boy and 



