Coues on the Nomenclature of North American Birds. 101 
inapplicable to this genus, the next in order seems to be Plegadis, Kaup, 
1829. The American bird has not been satisfactorily shown to differ 
from the old-world Glossy Ibis. If the White and Red Ibises be judged 
generically distinct from the Glossy, they become, — 
446. Eudocimus albus (Z.). 
447. Eudocimus ruber ( L .). 
464. Aramus pictus ( Barlr .) Coues. Whatever may be said for or 
against taking some of the slightly described species of Bartram’s now 
notorious list, no objection can be urged against certain species fully de- 
scribed and formally named elsewhere in his work. The Black Vulture, 
the Wild Turkey, and the present bird are of this category. 
510. Histrionicus minutus ( L .) Coues. My friend, Mr. Dresser, 
uses the genus Cosmonetta, Kaup, 1829, instead of Histrionicus , Less., 1828, 
both being based upon Anas histrionica , L. He discards Lesson’s name 
because it was proposed as a sub-genus only; but surely this furnishes a 
precedent too dangerous to follow, for to carry it into effect would be 
to upset hundreds of current names. It is generally conceded that, 
so far as availability is concerned, subgeneric are at par with generic 
names, — just as if, were I to make a Falco fuscus var. brunneus, after- 
ward determined to be distinct specifically from fuscus, my name brun- 
neus would be tenable, notwithstanding some one should have mean- 
while called it obscurus. The specific name histrionica being taken for 
the genus, the next in order is minuta , L. Mr. Dresser is “ convinced ” 
that minuta , L., is the 9 of the present species, but refrains from using 
it because of the generic usage he adopts. The term Histrionicus minu- 
tus actually occurs on Mr. Dresser’s page, and I would gladly write his 
name as the authority for the combination I here adopt, were it not that, 
as he only uses it to reject it, I am not at liberty to do so. The above 
name is undesirable, but I see no way to “ get around it.” 
483, seqq. Branta spp. I fear that some of us have been hasty to fol- 
low Dr. Bannister in rejecting Bernicla, Steph., for Branta of Scopoli. I 
have not the work at hand as I write, but I remember once looking it up 
and concluding that Branta was not available, from defective diagnosis, 
mixed types, or other cause. 
499. Aix sponsa (Z.) Boie. Does the rule for turning Greek 
alpha iota into Latin require us to emend Boie’s genus Aix? Or is it 
properly written Aix, with the diaeresis, and as a dissyllable ? 
505. Clangula glaucium (Z ) Brelim. 
506. Clangula islandica (Gm.) Bp. 
507. Clangula albeola (Z.) Steph. According to the synonymy as 
arranged by Dresser in B. Eur., Pt. XL VI, Dec., 1875, the type of Clan- 
gula, Fleming, 1822, is Anas clangula, L., though Gray’s Hand-list says 
not so. But Gray had a rule about generic types which cannot be carried 
into practice. The original specific name being taken for the genus, its 
Linnaean synonym glaucion becomes available, and I do not see why 
we should not follow Brisson in writing it glaucium. 
