72 THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 



still continue to consider them as belonging to the 

 genus Loxia ; as if the particular structure of the 

 bill should in all cases but this, be the criterion by 

 which to judge of a species ; or perhaps, conceiving 

 themselves the wiser of the two, they have thought 

 proper to associate together what nature has, in the 

 most pointed manner, placed apart. In separating 

 these birds, therefore, from the Grosbeaks, and class- 

 ing them as a family [genus] by themselves, substi- 

 tuting the specific for the generic appellations, 

 I have only followed the steps and dictates of that 

 great original, whose arrangements ought never to 

 be disregarded by any who would faithfully copy 

 her." — Amer. Orn. vol. IV, p. 44. The term Loxia 

 has been applied to many genera, a dozen at least, 

 so that I think it ought to be entirely abandoned, 

 especially as it is very vague and insignificant, being 

 derived from a Greek word signifying curved. I 

 refer the reader to the Magazine of Natural History, 

 vol.. VII, p. 593, for further remarks on this name. 

 Elanus furcatus is another instance of a specific 

 name being founded on a generic character : furcatus 

 applies to every species of Forktail (Elanus.) To 

 call the Bank Dipper — Cinclus aquaticus, is also 

 objectionable, because every species of Dipper 

 equally frequents the water. The same may be said 

 of the names, Rallus aquaticus, Tuixlus musicus, 

 Silvia silvicola, Motacilla lotor, Neophron percnop- 

 lerus, %c. These species might be called Cinclus 

 rupestris, Rallus serica, Tardus hortensis, Silvia 



