on Mr. G. R. Gray's 6 Genera of Birds' 417 



ear like Olus, and cites two species, U. lapponica and U. nehulosa. 

 But it appears that the U. lapponica has not a large ear-cavity, but 

 agrees in its structure with the genus Syrnium, so that the nebulosa 

 only can be quoted as a type of Ulula, Cuv. This error of Cuvier's 

 was pointed out by Bonaparte in his excellent but little-known 

 ' Osservazioni sulla 2 da edizione del Regno Animale del Barone 

 Cuvier,' Svo, Bologna, 1830, p. 43. Bonaparte retains the specific 

 name cinereum, Gm., as being prior to lapponicum, Retz. 



The specific name Nyctale tengmalmi (Gm.)* should be used as 

 being prior to dasypus, Bechst. 



P. 8. Does not Collocalia, Gray, belong to the Hirundinince rather 

 than the Cypselince ? 



P. 9. The subfamily Coraciance ought, I conceive, to be included 

 in the Halcyonidce {Alcedinidce, mihi,) rather than among the Todidce. 

 The structure of their feet, their habits, and the ccerulean tints of 

 their plumage, show great affinity, first to the Bee-eaters and through 

 them to the Kingfishers. (See my ' Map of the Alcedinidce,' Ann. 

 Nat. Hist. vol. vi. pi. 8.) They may, however, lead towards the 

 Todidce in the other direction, as there shown. 



The genus Corydon, Less., 1828, though afterwards united by 

 Lesson to Eurylaimus, forms a very distinct generic type, and should 

 take its place as follows : — 



Corydon, Less., 1828, ■< Coracias, Raff., ■< Eurylaimus, Tern. 

 C. sumatranus (Raff.) n. E. corydon, Tern. PL Col. 297, C. tem- 

 minckii, Less. 



The Momotince are evidently only the American group of the Bee- 

 eaters, and might, I think, be included with them as a mere sub- 

 family, Meropince, of the Halcyonidce. 



The Prionites mexicanus, Swains., is not the same as Crypticus 

 platyrhynchus, but is a true Momotus, figured by Jardine and Selby 

 (111. Orn. ser. 1. pi. 25.), where it is erroneously named M. martii. 

 The true martii of Spix is said by Bonaparte to be the same as Cryp- 

 ticus platyrhynchus, which in that case should be called C. martii 

 (Spix). 



P. 10. Calurus resplendens was named paradiseusby Bonaparte in 

 1826. (See Proc. Zool. Soc. part v. p. 101.) 



There seems to be no sufficient ground for including the Tama- 

 tiance among the Halcyonidce. This group possesses structural cha- 

 racters which entitle it to rank as a distinct family undef the name 

 of Capilonidce. 



Mr. Gray transposes the names Tamatia and Capito as used by 

 Mr. Swainson, a step which would certainly cause confusion, but 

 which may be rectified as follows. It should first be observed, that 

 when two authors give separate names to precisely the same group, 

 the later name should be cancelled in toto, and not allowed to share 



* I have found great convenience in always writing specific names with 

 a small initial letter, even when they are derived from persons or places. 

 The eye thus at once distinguishes specific from generic names, and avoids 

 the confusion caused by specific names commencing occasionally with a 

 capital letter like genera. 



Ann. §• Mag. N. Hist. Vol. vi. 2 e 



