TAVISTOCKA. 
The history of the name Stagoncrpleura must be here given. Reichenbach 
published a book containing figures only, the figures usually showing, ui 
line dra’wmgs only, the bill and head, tip of wing, section of tail and foot, 
and to these was attached simply a generic name. Upon the receipt of tliis 
book the recipient might guess from the name and location what bird was 
intended, but could not verify these by actual comparison as the figures 
rarely accm’ately agreed, and in many instances of well-known genera the 
figiues had been prepared from some obscure atypical species. Many of 
the names given in this book were novel, and I maintain these are at this place 
indetermmable and caimot be used as of Reichenbach at the date he gives 
for publication, viz., Jime 1st, 1850. Moreover, two other workers in the 
same year attempted to use these names, ascribing them to Reichenbach and 
often in a different maimer. Consequently, if the names are to be used at 
all, they must be utilised from the first recognisable user, and in tliis case this 
is Bonaparte, who in the Consp. Gen. Av. used “ Siagonopleura ” for a series 
of species. He, however, spelt it Steganopleura and this spelluig must be 
maintained. The next year Cabanis used Stagonopleura, pointing out 
Bonaparte’s usage as incorrect for a different I’inch. Reichenbach had 
probably told Cabanis, as apparently they were in correspondence, and since 
then Slagonopleura has been used in Cabanis’ sense. As, however, Bonaparte’s 
introduction of Steganopleura w’as earlier, and was intended for Slagonopleura, 
I conclude Bonaparte’s name must be used, while I camiot use the later 
Slagonopleura, simply an alternative spelling, for another closely allied group. 
157 
