Bid gw ay on Objectionable Names of Birds. 
37 
Ornithology. The original name bestowed upon the Bed-billed 
Pigeon, • Colnmba flavirostris , has been allowed to pass current ever 
since its institution, by Wagler, in 1831, the only synonym being 
0. solitaria, MacCall, doubtfully referred to this species. It being 
an established fact, however, that the bill of this species is never 
yellow in life, but pink or purple, with a whitish tip, the name 
flavirostris is one whose meaning is “ glaringly false,” and should 
accordingly be changed. This is only one case among many. 
Chamcea fasciata is the accepted name of a Californian bird which 
is notably chai’acterized by exceedingly plain colors, devoid of dis- 
tinct markings of any kind. In some individuals (perhaps more 
especially in the type of the species), the tail-feathers present the 
appearance of narrow darker bars distinctly observable only in 
certain lights, — these bars having given occasion for the name 
fasciata. The latter name is unquestionably inappropriate, though 
not, in the strictest sense, “glaringly false.” This very fact, how- 
ever, has a very important bearing on the question of zoological 
nomenclature, as the sequel will show. The common Song Sparrow 
was named Fringilla fasciata by Forster in 1772, the specific name 
being based upon precisely the same character as that which gave 
rise to the name in the case of Chamcea ; yet Wilson’s name, melodia . , 
bestowed nearly forty years later, is allowed to supersede Forster’s 
name. There is flagrant injustice in this case : either Gambel’s name 
of fasciata for Chamcea should be discarded, or Forster’s name, fas- 
ciata, for the Song Sparrow 7 restored. 
Helminthophaga pinus is the accepted name of a Warbler wUich, 
so far as known, (and it is very intimately knowm to the writer,) 
frequents chiefly, if not exclusively, deciduous woods. The name 
pinus implies pinicoline habits, and is therefore “glaringly false.” 
The Western Tanager was named Tanagra ludoviciana “ w 7 hen 
the letters ‘LOUISIANA’ stretched clear across the present 
boundary of the United States into British America.”* If the 
name “Louisiana” Tanager is glaringly false, in a geographical 
sense, the Latin equivalent, ludoviciana , is equally so. 
The common Chimney Swift is called Chcetura pelagica. The 
latter term implies a pelagic habitat, and is peculiarly appropriate 
when applied to the Stormy Petrel, or other Sea-birds. But v ? ho 
ever heard of the Chimney Swift occurring at sea except when driven 
thereby a gale h 
* Cf. Coues, B. Col. Val., p. 360. 
