X PREFACE. 



number of elegant classical names in his head, which 

 he wishes to make subservient to the demands of 

 such "progress." The first thing he does is to divide 

 the thirteen or fourteen European Owls into three 

 (what he calls) "sub-families." The first sub-family, 

 containing seven species, he places in seven different 

 genera. The Hawk Owl is a "Surnia;" the Snowy 

 is a "Nyctea;" the little Strix passerina is a 

 "Glaueidium." The Little Owl is an "Athene" 

 and its congener, the Scops, has its specific name 

 converted into a genus, and it flourishes as "Scops 

 zorca" The Egyptian is treated likewise, and 

 becomes "Ascalaphus savignyi;" while the Great- 

 eared Owl is changed from Strix bubo to "Bubo 

 atheniensis." We have then in the first sub-family 

 seven owls and seven genera. The next sub-family 

 commences with the two British Eared Owls; but 

 it is necessary for the "progress of science" that 

 these two very closely-allied birds should have each 

 a separate genus, — one is called "Otus vulgaris" 

 the other "Brachyotus palustris!" Then jn the 

 same family follow the Tawny, in the genus 

 "Syrniwn;" the Lap, in the genus "Ulula;" and 

 the little Tengmalm, in the genus "Xyctale,:" five 

 more Owls, and five genera L The last sub-family 

 contains only one European species, for which the 

 genus Strix is retained, namely, our old friend 

 the Barn Owl. Thus we have thirteen European 

 owls, each having a separate genus. 



Now let me ask, where is the good of all this? 



