THE TROPIC BIRD. 



285 



ir*haeton by Linnaeus, and Paille en queue by 

 BufFon ; whilst our own mariners address him 

 under the familiar appellation of Marlingspike, and 

 sometimes under that of Boatswain. 



Our ornithological nomenclature is much more 

 dignified now-a-days, than it was in the olden time. 

 Many a bird which heretofore would have received 

 its name from some particular spot in which it 

 resided — the wood-ovA to wit, or from some pecu« 

 liar food upon which it was known to feed — the 

 carrion-crow for example — now bears the name of 

 some individual of the human race — some friendly 

 patron — some modern Croesus, who can assist the 

 author in his journey through an expensive press. 



In the first volume of a recent work on North 

 American Ornithology, no less than thirteen birds 

 appear to bear the names of men. I have my 

 doubts whether this complimentary nomenclature 

 be of any real benefit to the public at large, or to 

 science in general. Perhaps our own Sages, here 

 in the East, will discuss this question at their lei- 

 sure. I could wish, however, that the western 

 artist had given us a glossary, by means of which 

 we might learn something of the philosophers after 

 whom his birds are named ; as I take it for granted 

 (though possibly I may be mistaken), that his thir- 

 teen birds are really named from individuals of the 

 human race. 



In the plates to the first volume of his work, I 

 find that a hawk is called the Black Warrior," 

 and that the Latin name which he has given it is 



Falco Harlani.'* Pray, who or what is Harlanl ? 



