THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 63 



the Birds: the Willow Warbler (Silvia melodia,) 

 Blyth,) is addressing the inquiring boy: — "I too 

 am called a Wren ; but have also several other very- 

 pretty names, not one of which I can pronounce 

 properly, but you may, gentle youth, so you shall 

 have them all, every one, vulgar and learned. In 

 the common tongue, then, which is spoken by En- 

 glish boys and girls, I am Willow Wren, Yellow 

 Wren, Hay bird, and Bee bud. In the Latin, I am 

 alternately Silvia trochilus, Cuculis trochilus, and 

 Trochilus asilus. It is a sad thing that the learned, 

 at least, cannot agree a little better. I should like 

 for instance to be known all over the world as Silvia 

 trochilus. Why should I not? Silvia! there is 

 something soft and pastoral in the very sound. It 

 is music itself; and I flatter myself it expresses my 

 character very well. But Cuculis ! who ever heard 

 of such a name for a pretty songster ? it can hardly 

 be uttered without choking. Do then, my kind 

 friend, lend your aid. Call me, and write me down 

 Silvia trochilus. It may seem of little importance ; 

 for a name, some may say, is nothing. I cannot 

 agree with them, for a name is a key, and sometimes 

 the only one, that will unlock what we wish to lay 

 open and examine.'''' p. 92. 



I think I have now said enough to convince every 

 unprejudiced person (the prejudiced it woidd be 

 useless to attempt to convince) not only of the erro- 

 neousness, but also of the mistakes and misconcep- 

 tions to which a loose system of Nomenclature gives 



