THE ORNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 73 



sihilans, Motacilla maculosa, Neophron alpina. 

 Some of these, I am aware, may apply to other spe- 

 cies, but not so eminently as those I have discarded. 

 Indeed, there is perhaps not one of the objectionable 

 modes I have enumerated, that I have been able 

 entirely to avoid, but, at any rate, I have not employ- 

 ed them profusely as is done by several naturalists 

 who should set a better example. I should also 

 mention that several generic names as Curruca, 

 Cliaradrius, Mormon, fyc, have been discarded for 

 the genera they are generally applied to, and others, 

 as Ficedula, Pluvialis, Pujfinus, fyc, have been 

 used in their stead. The reason for the first alter- 

 ation I shall give in the words of Blyth : — " The 

 best and most appropriate name that has hitherto 

 been applied to the fruit-eating genus of the War- 

 bler-Family, (Sihiadce) is the term Ficedula applied 

 by Aldrovand to the Fauvets. The appellation 

 Curruca (derived from the Latin word curro, to run,) 

 cannot with propriety be affixed to any genus of the 

 Warbler-family, inasmuch as they all move forward 

 by hopping ; it would therefore, I think, be better to 

 reject altogether the term Curruca, as objectionable 

 and inappropriate, and to consider the Fauvets as 

 constituting the genus Ficedula.''' vol. I, p. 308. 

 Selby says he adopts the name Cataractes for the 

 genus Skua, in preference to Temmink's name Lestris, 

 on account of the priority of the former : then why 

 not adopt Ficedula and Pluvialis, which have not 

 only the claim of priority, but also of accuracy and 



