ornithologist's text-book. 223 



work. The most convincing proof of the good 

 effects which these awful changes — as Mr. Strick- 

 land (see Analyst, No. xi) would term them — have 

 had, may be found in the Magazine of Natural 

 History. Very few here presume to speak of the 

 Solan Goose, Water Ouzel, Water Hen, &c. &c. 

 And this has been effected solely by the improved 

 names having been employed in standard works*. 



It is easy to foresee, that, before another century 

 has elapsed, the state of our vernacular nomencla- 

 ture will be very different from what it now is. At 

 present, however, though some are willing to allow 

 that the principle is good, yet they suppose it im- 

 possible to effect any material alteration in this 

 department ; while others, admitting the possibility 

 of making the change, declare that no beneficial 

 result can be» derived from it, when introduced. 

 The first of these objections, I have here, and also 

 elsewhere, proved to be invalid. The second now 

 demands our attention. 



Is it then no beneficial result to establish a prin- 

 ciple in a science, where popular caprice had before 

 been the sole director ? Is it nothing to facilitate 

 the progress of the student in- so extensive, so im- 

 portant and difficult a study as that of Naturef ? 

 These two reasons alone are surely sufficient argu- 

 ments in favour of a change so small, so easily ef- 

 fected, and yet so important. It is, moreover, gra- 

 dually winning its way into notice. My excellent 



* In the index to Vol. VIII of Mag. Nat. Hist., it was with no 

 small pleasure that we found " Coalhood" employed instead of 

 " hull-finch". " Kinglet" is also used; hut, unfortunately, so is 

 " Goldcrested Wren" too. 



f Natural History has, until lately, been merely a science of ob- 

 servation. But, by the discovery of the splendid circular theory 

 of Macleay, it has become one of the deepest philosophic induction. 

 Consequently, it is a far loftier and more difficult study than for- 

 merly. 



