202 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. _ 
the authors quoted ; since, in such cases, we tated Ss 
their figures as references only, without adopting th 
nomenclature. Where original specific names are n 
erroneous, or otherwise unobjectionable, we have, « 
matter of course, always retained them ; choosing, whe 
necessary, such as have the additional claim of priority 
Our original intention was to have enumerated all the 
authenticated species of each group; but this plan, set 
ting aside its difficulty, would have swelled the volume 
so much that it was soon abandoned. Those groups which 
we consider GENERIC are printed in capitals, the subgenera 
in Italics. There are some few additional ones, proposed — 
by authors, which appear good; but as they have not 
yet fallen under our examination, we have not, from ig-= 
norance of their affinities, ventured to adopt them. | 
(221.) We wish to take this opportunity of stating 
those principles which have guided us in the adoption 
of names, both generic and specific. There are certain 
canons, in regard to nomenclature, long since laid down 
by the fathers of science, to which all their followers, 
as we conceive, are bound to adhere: these, in the 
first instance, regard the construction of names ; and, 
secondly, their priority. Now it seems to us, that an 
- author, who violates the first, has no title whatever to 
found his claim upon the second. Priority is a sure 
ground of preference, provided the preliminary condi- 
tions of securing it have been complied with. We can- 
not, therefore, agree with those naturalists who adopt 
a barbarous, a fanciful, or a mythological name in orni- 
thology, merely because it claims priority over another 
which is both classic and expressive ; in other words, 
founded upon the primary rules of nomenclature, and’ 
therefore having a legitimate claim for general adoption, 
which the other certainly has not. If we are to take 
it as a principle, that priority alone is to guide us im 
our choice of names, we must act on that prince 
and at once expunge all those other rules, laid down b 
Linneus, to insure a system of classic nomencla 
we must cancel the names of M. Cuvier, and substitute 
