fVM. G. PRAEGER. 



[49 



Why should we call a bird " Yellow-hammer," which is 

 properly the name of a European '^\xx\\\x\g{Emberizacitrinella), 

 when we have such a variety of native names for this Wood- 

 pecker {Colaptes auratus) to choose from as Golden-winged 

 Woodpecker, Pigeon Woodpecker, High-holder, Yucker, 

 Flicker ? Yet one of our best manuals in a recent edition 

 gives " Yellow-hammer " the preference. 



Among the names of genera and families the same evil 

 prevails. The family Icteridcs is particularly unfortunate. 

 As a whole it lacks an English popular name, and its various 

 subfamilies are known as Starlings, Larks, and Orioles 

 — all very misleading names, as they properly belong 

 to families of old-world birds, not found in America. 

 " Starling," applied to American birds, is chiefly found in 

 books, however ; "Lark" is probably ineradicable, and I know 

 of no substitute, though it is very misleading ; " Oriole " has 

 also come to stay, apparently, though several substitutes 

 suggest themselves, of which " Hang-nest " is perhaps the 

 best. I notice that European naturalists often apply this 

 name to the whole family Icteridce, and though it is not 

 altogether appropriate, they certainly avoid confusion with 

 the old-world family Oriolidce by so doing. 



The finest work ever done in economic ornithology is the 

 investigation recently carried on by the Department of 

 Agriculture as to the food of Hawks and Owls. But how 

 slowly will the lesson learned thereby spread among those to 

 whom it will be most useful, and how much the want of a lan- 

 guage will delay it ! If such names as Falcon, Hawk, Buzzard, 

 Kite, Harrier, and Osprey were in common use, the outlook 

 would be more encouraging ; but many farmers know only 

 three kinds of hawk-like birds, naming ■ them, according to 

 size. Hen-hawks, Chicken-hawks, and Sparrow-hawks ; and 

 indiscriminate warfare is waged against them all. 



We must not forget the prominent place birds hold in our 

 higher literature, nor how very important names become 

 there. I hope all ornithologists love poetry. I know all 



