134 
Henshaw on the Hermit Thrush. 
character not infrequently occur far to the eastward or westward, 
in the very “heart” of the region where the typical form prevails. 
Now Colaptes auratus and C. mexicanus differ from each other much 
more, in their typical state, than do very many congeneric species 
between which intergradation is not known (e. g. the small Thrushes, 
of the subgenus Hylocichla , many of the Fringillidce , and numerous 
other groups) ! Formerly, these intermediate specimens were sup- 
posed to be hybrids ; but it is difficult to conceive of hybridization 
on such an immense scale. Now what is to be done in this case? 
Probably very few ornithologists would be willing to call the whole 
series simply C. auratus , while, on the other hand, since they prove 
not to be specifically distinct, it is. obviously wrong to imply such 
distinctness by the use of a specific name in each case. 
It seems to me, that Linnaeus himself has shown us how to solve 
the difficulty. Had the facts as above stated been known to him, 
he would doubtless have called the whole series C. auratus , at the 
same time calling the western (red-shafted) form “/?. mexicanus ” 
and the intermediate series, y. hybridus or ayresii (allowing him, of 
course, the choice of names, only the first-named form being at that 
time known). 
To sum up, it having been found necessary to name every true 
race or subspecies, I have found the method indicated by Linnaeus, 
as described above, to be more simple than any other, and to answer 
every requirement of the case. By adopting this plan, the question 
of nomenclature becomes very much simplified, while it expresses 
better than any other yet tested the relative rank of the forms 
which have to be recognized by name. 
REMARKS UPON T URDUS PALL A SI AND ITS VARIETIES. 
BY H, W. HENSHAW. 
The study of our small Olive-back Thrushes (. Hylocichlce ) has, 
from the times of the earliest writers, involved many interesting 
points, doubtless because of the general resemblance possessed in 
common by all the forms, and the resulting difficulties and confu- 
sion in the way of their identification, and in the proper application 
of the various names that from time to time have been bestowed 
upon each of the several members of the group. 
