Sept., 1922 OUR ENGLISH NOMENCLATURE 159 
same species, contain no hint that the species referred to is the familiar 
Downy Woodpecker. Of the common American Robin we have three geo- 
graphical races: one is called Western, another Southern, but the remaining 
race has no name. In the groups of Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers the 
length of the trinomial cannot be consistently urged as an objection, since we 
already have the Rocky Mountain Hairy Woodpecker. 
Many of the specific designations which were contained in the old A. O. 
U. check-list, but which were dropped in the third edition, might very well be 
revived. Notable among these was the prefix, American, as applied to such 
species as the following: 
129 Merganser 364 Osprey 
160 Hider 475 Magpie 
163 Scoter 486 Raven 
182 Flamingo 488 Crow 
196 Egret 521 Crossbill 
221 Coot 529 Goldfinch 
225 Avocet 697 Pipit 
228 Woodcock 761 Robin 
In the case of the Long-eared Owl it was consistent to drop the prefix, Am- 
erican, because it was superfluous and had the effect of producing a trinomial, 
which was applied to a species. In the common nomenclature, as in the scien- 
tific, binomials should be adequate for species. By analogy, it is doubted 
that ‘‘Merganser’’ is a sufficient replacement for ‘‘ American Mereanser’”’ 
In connection with this prefix, ‘‘American’’, it is well to consider whether 
the same English name should apply in all English-speaking countries. The 
terms American, European, etc., have been used both for species and races. In 
the case of the White-fronted Goose, if we are to have an ‘‘European’’ sub- 
species, we ought to have an ‘‘American’’ subspecies also. As examples of 
other species which are in need of ‘‘more’’ name, the following will occur to 
everyone: 
444 Kingbird 587 Towhee 
456 Phoebe 735 Chickadee 
501 Meadowlark 766 Bluebird 
While the above are all generic names, bereft of their rightful specific 
designations, there is another common form of abbreviaton which neglects 
the generic term entirely. For example, among the ducks we have the fol- 
lowing: 
Mallard Redhead 
Gadwall Canvas-back 
Baldpate Golden-eye 
Shoveller Buffle-head 
Pintail Old-squaw 
Such abbreviations as these are very appropriately used by sportsmen. They 
are natural and sufficient in ordinary conversation and appropriate in liter- 
ature. Such usage, however, does not justify them in the formal A. O. U. list. 
The word, Duck, should appear after each of them. We have also the Sora 
(Rail), Knot (Sandpiper), Killdeer (Plover), Ferruginous Rough-lee (Hawk), 
Flicker (Woodpecker) and others, in the same category. It is common cus- 
tom among ornithologists and nature-lovers generally to use the term ‘‘Red- 
wing’’ as an informal abbreviation of Red-winged Blackbird. The naturalists 
have a right to their spontaneous informalities as well as the sportsmen !—but 
