PREFACE. 
Vll 
c*ple that a Linnean specific name ought not to be altered, if 
the species to which it applies is beyond question. 
Let us take a couple of familiar examples. The Blackbird 
I call Merula merula (Linn.). It is the Ttirdus merula of 
Linnmus. Many ornithologists do not admit that the Black- 
bird is generically distinct from the Thrush {Turdus musicus), 
but for those who think otherwise, what is the generic name of 
the Blackbird to be? It is Merula of Leach, and therefore, if 
It IS considered necessary to keep Merula distinct from Turdus, 
the Blackbird must be called Merula merula (Linn.). Or to take 
the genus Cinclus. The Black-bellied Dipper is the Sturnus 
cinclus of Linnaeus. No one in these days would suggest that 
the Dippers are Starlings, and everyone adopts Bechstein’s 
genus Cinclus for these birds. The result is that the Black- 
bellied Dipper must bear the name of Cinclus cinclus (Linn.) I 
see no sort of escape from this conclusion. 
Then, again, there is often a difficulty in fixing the type of 
a Linnean genus, because modern research has much enlarged 
the scope of our knowledge of birds since 1766. Thus the 
genus Turdus of Linnaeus is the Family Turdidce of our 
present Systems, and the genus Strix of Linnaeus equals the 
amily StngidcE or the Order Siriges of the present day. The 
Ipe of a I.innean genus can, therefore, be fixed only by 
e imination.” I will take the genus Strix as an example, 
welve species of Strix were known to Linnmus and 
ctcscnbed by him in 1766, divided into two seclions-tho.se 
"’ith car-tufts, and those without. 
a. Auriculatae {— Genus Asio, Briss. 1760). 
Type of Cuvier, 1S17. i. bubo. 
2. scandiaca = No. 6. 
3. asio. Is also a ScoJ>s, like 
4- otus. I No. 5. 
gny, 1809. scopSr 
Type of SCO/'S, Savi: 
