52 LITTLE RED-BILLED HAWK. 
THis elegant little miniature Goshawk is said by 
Schlegel to occur in Greece, and Malta is given as 
another European locality by the late lamented Mr. 
Strickland. Degland, however, doubts whether it has 
ever occurred in Europe, and omits it from his list; 
but he gives no reasons for his doubt, and as in 
addition to the above authorities, Mr. Gurney informs 
me he has no reason to disbelieve the statements of 
its occurrence in Greece, I introduce it here. 
I will take this opportunity of making one or two 
remarks about the classification and arrangement I 
have adopted in this work; and this explanation is 
necessary, inasmuch as this bird is the first to which 
I have not given its sub-generic name. 
I think there is no point in Natural History about 
which we should be more rigorously careful than sim- 
plicity in nomenclature. Since the days of Linnzus 
no one has observed this rule more strictly than the 
late eminent ornithologist, M. 'Temminck; and therefore 
I have unhesitatingly adopted his arrangement. <A 
celebrated naturalist observed to me a short time ago, 
when conversing with him upon this subject, that we 
must regulate our nomenclature by the progress of 
science. In answer to this remark, I refer to the 
synonymes at the head of this notice. Seven eminent 
men have given the Falco Gabar seven totally different 
names. Which of the seven is right? Science must 
not be held responsible for what I have no hesitation 
in declarmg to be a manifest absurdity, and this — 
argument falls to the ground. ach authority could 
doubtless give fis reason; but then the question resolves 
itself into one of personal opinion and not of science. — 
Linneus described all the Fulconide under one 
generic term, that of Falco. Temminck admitted sub- 
