490 Letters, Announcements , fyc. 
received. A translation of Forster's work, made by Dr. Aiken 
of Yarmouth, was reprinted and published in 1795, as stated 
by Pennant, to which was added the f Faunula Indica' of 
Latham and Davies. I think, therefore, we shall be obliged 
to accept Rhinoplax vigil as the only proper name for the 
Helmeted Hornbill, and also Rhytidoceros plicatus for the 
Papuan Wreathed Hornbill, the synonymy of which was so 
clearly given by Lord Tweeddale in the July ‘Ibis.’ I have 
always considered, Messrs. Editors, and I think you will agree 
with me, that it is the duty of one who writes a monograph, 
to state all the facts he may discover in regard to his subject, 
no matter what the effect may.be on its nomenclature (which 
may previously have been but imperfectly understood), or 
what preconceived opinions may be shown to be erroneous, 
and also to give to the original describer of a species, where- 
ever he may be found, after 1766, the credit due to his work 
and the priority which is his right; and it is to carry this out 
in all fairness that I have accepted Forster's work (even if it 
be only a Latin or German translation of an unpublished 
English one) in its entirety as that of a thoroughly reliable 
and competent author, in the present instance to the dis¬ 
comfiture and confusion of Boddaert and Gmelin, who mis- 
takinglv supposed they enjoyed the precedence. 
I am, &c., 
D. G. Elliot. 
Paris, 10th July. 
[Pennant's positive statement, as quoted by Mr. Elliot, 
that Forster was the author of the f Faunula Indica,' and 
Forster's equally positive assertion that Pennant was its author, 
leave us, as far as our present information goes, in a position 
of complete uncertainty to whom to ascribe this work—-a posi¬ 
tion from which we have no wish to rescue ourselves. As 
regards the work itself, it is a fragmentary list, and intended 
as a prelude to a more formal memoir. Its scientific value 
is slight indeed, as it is merely a catalogue of names (not 
always binomial), none of which are accompanied by any de¬ 
scription and to many no references whatever are added. We 
