ON SCIENTIFIC NOMENCLATURE. 
SOS 
eular attention, namely, the Falconiicp,^ or Falcon family. The arrangement is 
as nearly as possible according to the true' natural affinities, and is the only 
really scientific one I ever saw. It was adopted by, and, I believe, originated 
with, Mr. Vigors [^Now N. A. Vigors, Esq., M.P., D.C.L., F.R.S., &c.—E d.]^ 
in some admirable papers by that distinguished naturalist in the Zoological 
Journal. * 
Rock Goshawk, Astur palumharius. 
Sparrow Hawk, Accipiierfringillarius-. 
Common Merlin, Msalon ccesius. 
Kestril Falcon, Falco tinniinculus. 
Orange-legged Falcon, Falco rufipe^. 
Hobby Falcon, Falco suhbuteo. 
Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus-. 
Jer Falcon, Falco Islandicus. 
Golden Eagle, Chrg^tus aquilinusA' [i. c., Aquiline Golden-Eagle!-—Why 
not Aquila aurea^ of our worthy countryman Willughby ?—=EdJ 
Common Ossifrage, Haliaetus albicilla. 
Common Osprey, Ichthgaetus piscivorus^X 
Common Kite, Milvusfurcatus. 
[[White-headed Forktail, Elanus leucoccphalus.~-Ei}.~\ 
Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus. 
Rough-legged Buzzard, Buteo pennatus. 
Common Buzzard, Buteo vulgaris. 
Marsh Harrier, Circus rufus. 
Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus. 
^ We are well acquainted with the excellent article of Dr. Vigors in the Zool. Journ. VoL 
p. 368), but we must confess ourselves at a loss to perceive much resemblance between either':'ir 
nomenclature on arrangement adopted by Dr. Y. and that presented to the readers of The 
Naturalist by our correspondent—E d. 
f The above [generic] name for the Golden Eagle, I consider the most appropriate that can 
be given. The adults (two magnificent specimens of which I lately inspected in the Zoological 
Gardens, with special reference to the propriety of that name), when in full plumage, are of 
dark brown, mixed with a fine rich tawny, as nearly as possible the colour of gold when slightly 
alloyed with copper ; and as it is the only truly typical species we possess, it follows, as a thing 
of course, that it is the most aquiline of the group, and, in my opinion at least, fully justifies its 
claim to the above appellation-[That the Golden Eagle is typical of its genus we do not deny, 
nor yet do we oppose the claims of the genus itself to tjrpicality as far as regards the subfamily to 
which it belongs ; but assuredly neither of these circumstances have any thing whatever to do 
with the specific name of the bird_ Ed.] 
I Here the fish-eating is given both as a general and specific character, which is decidedly 
obj ectionable.—- Ed, 
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