THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 65 



attempt to explain the requisites of correct nomen- 

 clature. The generic names will first be considered, 

 and then the specific. Every genus must have a 

 generic name peculiar to itself. This rule is too 

 frequently transgressed. For instance, the four gen- 

 era, Warbler ( Silvia, ) Reedling (Salicaria,) King- 

 let (Regains,) and Whinling ( Melizophilus,) were 

 frequently confounded under the name Wren — the 

 English appellation of the genus Anorthura, of 

 which there is only one species found in Europe — 

 the Ivy Wren, {Anorthura troglodites, Morris.)* 

 The name Finch again, has been applied to the Coal- 

 hood (Pirrula,) to the Flycatcher (Miscicapa,) to 

 the Bunting (Emberiza,) to the Longspur (Plectro- 

 phanesj) and to the Petrel [Thalassidroma !) 

 when, in fact, it belongs to the genus Fringilla only. 

 Again, the name Gallinule has been employed for 

 the Rail (Rallus,) the Crake (Crex,) and the Zapern 

 (Zapornia,) whereas it belongs only to the genus 

 Gallinula. These instances are sufficient to explain 

 my meaning, and the inconvenience arising from this 

 incorrect mode of naming has been before demon- 

 strated. 2nd : the term bird should never be admit- 

 ted as an ingredient in a name : this rule is also 

 frequently transgressed. Among British birds, we 

 hear of the " sheep-foVe/," the " bl&ck-bird" the 

 " green-bird" the " ha,y-bird" and among foreign 



* As far as I am aware, Mr. Morris gave this name, at least the 

 first time I have seen it, was in his list of British Birds. Rennie 

 gave the generic name Anorthura, 



