BLACK WHEATEAK. 119 



Scliwarzer Steinschmdtzer, Of Meyer. 



Culhianco Ahhmnato, Of Savi and Maemoea. 



Specific Characters. — Plumage black, or blackisli, with the upper 

 and lower tail coverts white; tail white, with half of the two 

 middle quills and the posterior fourth of the laterals black. Length 

 of male sent me by the Rev. H. B. Tristram, seven inches; female 

 six inches and a quarter. 



Cabanis has separated this bird, with some others, 

 from the genus Saxicola, and included it under that of 

 Dromolcsa, in consequence of its habits being different 

 from those of the typical Wheatears. He has been 

 followed by Bonaparte and others, who, by adopting, 

 have acquiesced in the propriety of the arrangement. 

 I have not space here to do more than account for 

 my own reasons for preferring the retention of this 

 species in the genus Saxicola. I do not for a moment 

 question the grounds upon which this separation is 

 made, as being contrary to the scientific rules observed 

 by modern ornithological classifiers; but I doubt very 

 much whether any greater degree of precision in definition 

 is obtained, Avhile the evil of a multiplicity of generic 

 names, and a consequent complexity of ornithology as 

 a science, is effected. I therefore prefer the retention 

 of the original generic term of Bechstein, though I 

 admit that it does not give a general idea of the 

 structure and habits of the whole class, and therefore 

 was perhaps originally ill-ehosen. But just as Syltiadce, 

 or, as we are told it ought to be, Sylviidce, is sufficient 

 for all useful purpose as indicating a great group of 

 birds, all of which have not sylvan habits, so I think 

 we may accept Saxicola as a good generic term though 

 all the species do not affect rocks and stones. 



No better illustration could be o-iycn of the truth of 



