Note on Alle nigricans, Link. —In looking over Link’s Descrip¬ 
tion of tlie Museum of the Rostock University,*— a book so rare that only 
four copies are known to be extant, — I find, on p. 17 of Abtli. I, the above 
name, which requires attention. It is, in fact, a new genus and species, 
based on Alca alle, Linn., and set forth in due form. Now Mergulus, the 
current name of the genus, is a very old word, having come down to us from 
the pre-Linnsean fathers; but one which was never used in the sense of a 
modern genus by a binomenclator until so employed by Vieillot in 1816. 
Consequently AUe, Link, 1806, antedates Mergulus, and must be employed 
for the genus, unless we are to accept Arctica of Moehring, 1752, which 
few of us seem disposed to follow Gray in doing. As to the specific name, 
there are three to choose from. We may say Alle Candida after Briinnich, 
1764, but this name is scarcely applicable, as it was based upon an entirely 
white specimen, probably an albino, and misleads as to the character of 
the bird ; moreover, it conflicts with a Linnajan name, and would therefore 
be thrown out by most systematists. We may say Alle alle, after Lin- 
nteus, but this duplication of generic and specific terms is objectionable, 
and now rarely practised. The alternative is Alle nigricans. Link , and 
this would appear to be the tenable name of the bird in question, accord¬ 
ing to recognized rules of nomenclature. — Elliott Cotjf.s, Washing¬ 
ton, D. C. 
* Beschreibung der Naturalien-Sammlung der Universitat zu Rostock. 
Erste [sechste] Abtheilung. Von D. H. F. Link. Rostock, Adlers Erben, 1806 
-1808. 1 vol., sm. 8vo. (Vogel, pp. 17-50 of Abtheilung I, 1806.) 
Bull N.0.0. 4,Oct.,X879, p. . 
