224 



ornithologist's text-book. 



friend, Mr. Blyth, has already acknowledged the 

 principle, and, as far as I am aware, intends to 

 cany it into practice. But this accomplished Na- 

 turalist adopts subgeneric divisions, on which plan 

 it is almost impossible to have correct English 

 nomenclature. For, to follow out the principles 

 here inculcated, each subgenus must have a dis* 

 tinct English appellation, on the plan before men- 

 tioned, that each of the smaller divisions, whether 

 genera or subgenera, should have a separate Eng- 

 lish name, — supposing these subgenera to be de- 

 fined in Latin. For where the subgenera are only 

 marked by numbers or letters (and these are more 

 properly termed sections), as in the system of Tem- 

 minck, it is obvious that English names cannot be 

 given to such divisions. But in Mr. Blyth's sub- 

 genera the case is different. Each of these is 

 marked by a third Latin name, and, consequently, 

 a third English name should also be introduced. 

 A few instances will best explain my meaning. 

 Mr. Blyth's Fringillinm are as follows: — 



FRINGILLINJE.* 



Haw Grosbeak 

 Green Grosbeak 

 Common Linnet 

 Mountain Linnet 

 Mealy Linnet 

 Rose Linnet 

 Siskin Goldfinch 

 Common Goldfinch 

 Whitewinged Chaffinch 

 Moxmtain Chaffinch 

 House Sparrow 

 Tree Sparrow 



Fringilla coccothraustes vulgaris. 

 chloris. 



Spiza 

 Passer 



linaria linota. 



montana. 



— canescens. 

 pusilla. 

 carduelis spinus. 



elegans. 



coelebs leucoptera. 



montana. 



domesticus. 

 arboreus. 



Now, though I am far from wishing to call in 

 question the accuracy of the classification of the 

 above group, yet the English nomenclature is not 

 so precise as might be desired. For where is the 



* Extracted from a letter dated August the 18th, 1835. 



