VERNACULAR NAMES FOR AUSTRALIAN BTRDS. 
447 
( e ) The retention of names Used by European writers for 
waders and sea-birds migrating from abroad to these 
shores ; 
(/') The retention as much as possible of well-known popular* 
names, as is done with English birds ; 
(g) The elimination of authors’ or naturalists’ names applied as 
titles — these in some instances being superfluous (though in 
many others worthily applied), but in all cases being 
subversive of information to beginners — the proper and, 
at the same time, strictly complimentary place for such 
names being in the Latin title for the bird.f 
In the work of compilation the best course as regards the treat- 
ment of classical “English” names, such as Acanthiza , Gerygone , 
Sericornis, &c., seemed to be to select a vernacular name in accordance 
with the conditions in paragraph ( b ). These applied, for example, to 
Gerygone suggested the term Ely -eater, as distinguished from Fly- 
eatcher , for this aberrant and peculiarly Australasian form of small 
Ely-catchers which not only capture their food somewhat after the 
manner of Fly-catchers, but also seek for it arboreally. 
In dealing w T ith small active birds of mediocre plumage, which 
frequent, for the sustenance of life, trees, scrub, underwood, and so 
forth, the term “Tit” is apparently the best that can be applied, 
and, if qualified by a name denoting habit or locale , would seem very 
applicable to such small restless genera as Acanthiza , Sericornis , &c. 
As regards portions of Gould’s English nomenclatures, such as his 
general term “Robin” for the genera Peiroica , Pcecilodryas , Pop- 
saltria , it was found that by retaining the term “ Robin” for the best- 
known member of the group (Peiroica), and applying a qualifying noun 
to the allied genera, such titles as Tree-robin, Scrub-robin, and Shrike- 
robin w’ere easily evolved. The members of the genus Petroica are 
true chats in their habits, flight, and deportment; and the term 
“Chat-robin” would have been preferable to “Robin” had it not been 
for the qualifying name required with the members of the allied genera 
above mentioned, which would have made the names of these latter 
birds too lengthy. Where a species is well known and universally 
recognised by a single name, it seems best to apply this name and add 
a qualifying title to the other and less-known members of the genus. 
Myzantha is a case in point. The terms “Cuckoo-shrike,” “Cater- 
pillar-eater,” and others have been used in accordance with Indian 
nomenclature, allied species being thus known in India. The term 
“Frogsmouth” is used in order to get rid of that very objectionable 
name Podargus , and as being applied to the other genera Batrachostomus 
and Otothrix of the family Steal ornince in India. It is a name well 
suited to the singular structure of the mouth, and presumably better 
than the mythical title “ Goat-sucker.” “ Night-hawk,” sometimes 
applied to the Caprimulgince , does not accord with the mode of flight 
of the genus Podargus. 
Contrary to the principle laid down in (<?), the generic term 
Pitta has been retained, subject, however, to the suggestion that the 
Indian name “ Ant-thrush” might well be given to this genus. Pitta 
was retained provisionally, as it is used in connection with Malayan 
* Mr. Campbell did not agree on this point. 
t One or two exceptions have been made to this theory in compiling the list. 
