301 a. Picoides TRIDACTYLUS dorsalis (Baird) B. B. & R. 314. Colaptes AURATUS mexicanus (Sw.). The above combination becomes absolutely necessary in view of the indisputable and wholesale intergradation of the auratus and mexicanus types of this species. In the present case is afforded an excellent example of the difficulties in the way of consistent nomenclature, whether binomial or trinomial. 316. ALUCO flammeus PRATINCOLA (Bonap.) Ridgw.-Professor Newton has, we think, clearly demonstrated* that the proper type of the Linnæan genus Strix is not S. flammea, but S. stridula, subsequently made the type of Savigny's genus Syrnium; and that Aluco, Fleming (1828), should stand as the generic name of the Barn Owls. Andubon's name, "americana” (1839), for the American Barn Owl is antedated by pratincola, Bonap. (1838), which should, in consequence, stand as the subspecific name for this form. 318 b. Scops asio MACCALLI (Cass.) Coues.-In the "Proceedings of the U. S. Nat. Mus." for 1878 (Vol. I, pp. 109-111), I formally referred the "Scops asio var. enano" of Lawrence to S. maccalli, Cassin, and in a foot-note on p. 111 refer Mr. Sennett's specimens to the latter. This fact, however, seems to have been overlooked by both Dr. Coues and Mr. Sennett, who, in their last paper, continue to call the variety "S. asio enano." 320. ASIO wilsonianus (Less.).-Brisson's genus Asio appears to be unquestionably that which should be applied to the long-eared owls, and has long since been adopted by some authorities. Admitting that the short-eared species (Strix accipitrina, Pall.) cannot be separated generically, it would have to be called 321. ASIO accipitrinus (Pall.) Newton. 323. STRIX nebulosa, Forst.-Professor Newton's very correct conclusion that the proper type of the Linnæan genus Strix is the S. stridula, necessitates the above change in the generic name of this American congener of that species. The Floridan birds of S. nebulosa I find to be so different from northern examples as to well merit subspecific separation. In his memorable work on the birds of East Florida (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, p. 340) Mr. Allen refers to the much darker color of Floridan specimens, but apparently overlooks the naked toes. It is with pleasure that I dedicate this race to one who has done such eminent service not only to the ornithology of Florida, but to the science in general. * Cf. Yarrell's Brit. Birds, ed. 4, vol. i, p. 150, and The Ibis, ser. iii, vol. vi, pp. 94-105. + Since these pages were put in type, I have discovered that the name stands as above given in the "Check List." The notice of the species here was therefore an oversight. STRIX NEBULOSA ALLENI, Ridgw. CH.-Similar to typical nebulosa, but toes wholly destitute of feathers or bristles, being perfectly bare to the extreme base; colors darker than in nebulosa, with less ochraceous, the tail scarcely barred on the basal half, and the bars on the breast much more distinct, as well as narrower and more continuous. Hab.-Florida (Clearwater). The above characters I find to be constant in a series of three specimens (two and one ?) sent to the National Museum by Col. S. T. Walker, of Clearwater, Florida. Not only are the toes perfectly bare, but the feathers clothing the tarsi are much shorter than in northern nebulosa, thus causing the legs to appear much more slender. The only feathering on the toes consists of a small pointed strip on the outer side of the first phalanx of the middle toe, reaching about to the second joint. 324. STRIX occidentalis (Xant.) Ridgw. Assuming that the Great Grey Owls are sufficiently distinct generically from the foregoing, they should be known as 322. SCOTIAPTEX cinereum (Gmel.) Swains., and [322 a.] SCOTIAPTEX cinereum lapponicum (Retz.) Ridgw 236. Surnia ulula FUNEREA (Linn.) Rich. & Sw.-In the 10th edition of "Systema Natura" Linnæus describes on the same page (93) Strix funerea and S. ulula, in the order here given; the former being based on "Fn. suec. 51," the "ulula flammeata, Frisch. av. t. 9" being doubtfully quoted; "Habitat in Europa." S. ulula is based upon "Fn. suec. 52-Ulula, Gesn. av. 773, Aldr. ornith, 1. 8, c. 6; Will. ornith. 68, t. 13, Ray. av. 26, n. 4;" the habitat also "in Europa." In neither case would the diagnoses given determine the species independent of the references. In the 12th edition, however, S. ulula is mentioned first, with the same diagnosis and habitat, but with additional or more explicit references. S. junerea follows, with an additional diagnosis which renders the species unmistakable, and a reference to "Strix canadensis," Briss. av. I, p. 518, t. 37, f. 2, which we know to be the American Hawk Owl. Furthermore, there is added to the habitat "America septentrionali." It is therefore difficult to decide which of the two names has priority as the specific designation. If the S. funerea is to be regarded the same in both editions, then this name, as occurring first on the page, would be entitled to that claim; but there is nothing whatever in the account of Strix funerea of edition 10 to show that it is anything more than the European Hawk Owl; or, in other words, the same as the species called on the same page S. ulula. As the matter stands, we prefer to take funerea of 1766 as the earliest date of the name as applied to the American bird, and to call the species S. ulula, the latter name being of certain application in the 10th edition, while it precedes funerea in the 12th. 347. Falco FUSCO-CÆRULESCENS, Vieill.-See Sharpe, "Catalogue of the Accipitres in the British Museum," I, p. 400. 353. Buteo ABBREVIATUS, Caban.-See Sharpe, as above, p. 163, who, however, refers it to the genus "Tachytriorchis." See, also, Sclater & Salvin's "Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium,” p. 118. 363. Polyborus CHERIWAY (Jacq.) Caban.-See Sharpe, t. c., p. 33. This species appears to be quite distinct from P. tharus. 364. PSEUDOGRYPHUS californianus (Shaw) Ridgw.-Concerning the validity of this genus, see Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club., April, 1880, p. —. 366. CATHARISTA (atrata, Bartr.).—If the name atrata, as now almost universally applied to this species, is to be accredited to Bartram, it has priority over all the synonyms; but if we are to reject Bartram's names on account of his frequent "lapses" from binomialism, or his equally bad practice of omitting descriptions (which, however, is not the case with regard to his mention of the present species), then urubu of Vieillot (1809) takes precedence over atrata of Wilson (1812), which comes next in order of date. 368. Columba ERYTHRINA, Licht.-Although there is no law compelling the adoption of a museum name, I prefer to do so in this case rather than propose a new one, since Lichtenstein's name erythrina is a very appropriate one. The name by which this species has usually been knownC. "flavirostris, Wagler"-is "glaringly false," and, therefore, to be rejected, according to the rules of the British Association.* It is true that the bill sometimes appears yellowish in the dried skin, but in life it is always some shade of purple or pink, whitish at the extremity. Whatever it may be, it is impossible to identify McCall's C. solitarius with this species. If his description was really penned from a specimen, his bird has not yet been rediscovered, no known North American Pigeon corresponding at all closely with his description. In any event it cannot be the present species, which never has "brilliant reflections" on either neck or breast, nor the back or under wing-coverts "light-red color." 378. ORTALIS vetula maccalli (Baird) Ridgw.-In regard to this emendation of the generic name, see Wharton, "The Ibis," Oct., 1879, p. 450. I find the Texan birds easily distinguishable from Mexican examples (true vetula). 380. CANACE canadensis (Linn.) Reich.-None of the American grouse usually referred to Tetrao resemble at all closely the type of the latter genus, T. urogallus, Linn. They appear, in fact, nearly as distinct from Tetrao proper as are Bonasa or Pediœcetes, or other recognized American genera. It seems scarcely advisable, however, to admit a genus "Dendragapus" for the special accommodation of C. obscura in its various forms. 396. Charadrius DOMINICUS, Müll.-Müller's name for the American Golden Plover, dating 1776, should take precedence over fulvus, Gmel., bestowed twelve years later (1788), as the name of the species. The Asiatic form should therefore be called C. dominicus fulvus (Gmel.) * Cf. Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Jan., 1880, p. 37. STRIX NEBULOSA ALLENI, Ridgw. CH.-Similar to typical nebulosa, but toes wholly destitute of feathers or bristles, being perfectly bare to the extreme base; colors darker than in nebulosa, with less ochraceous, the tail scarcely barred on the basal half, and the bars on the breast much more distinct, as well as narrower and more continuous. Hab.-Florida (Clearwater). The above characters I find to be constant in a series of three specimens (two and one?) sent to the National Museum by Col. S. T. Walker, of Clearwater, Florida. Not only are the toes perfectly bare, but the feathers clothing the tarsi are much shorter than in northern nebulosa, thus causing the legs to appear much more slender. The only feathering on the toes consists of a small pointed strip on the outer side of the first phalanx of the middle toe, reaching about to the second joint. 324. STRIX occidentalis (Xant.) Ridgw. Assuming that the Great Grey Owls are sufficiently distinct generically from the foregoing, they should be known as 322. SCOTIAPTEX cinereum (Gmel.) Swains., and [322 a.] SCOTIAPTEX cinereum lapponicum (Retz.) Ridgw 236. Surnia ulula FUNEREA (Linn.) Rich. & Sw.-In the 10th edition of "Systema Natura" Linnæus describes on the same page (93) Strix funerea and S. ulula, in the order here given; the former being based on "Fn. suec. 51," the "ulula flammeata, Frisch. av. t. 9" being doubtfully quoted; "Habitat in Europa." S. ulula is based upon "Fn. suec. 52-Ulula, Gesn. av. 773, Aldr. ornith, l. 8, c. 6; Will. ornith. 68, t. 13, Ray. av. 26, n. 4;" the habitat also "in Europa." In neither case would the diagnoses given determine the species independent of the references. In the 12th edition, however, S. ulula is mentioned first, with the same diagnosis and habitat, but with additional or more explicit references. S. funerea follows, with an additional diagnosis which renders the species unmistakable, and a reference to "Strix canadensis," Briss. av. I, p. 518, t. 37, f. 2, which we know to be the American Hawk Owl. Furthermore, there is added to the habitat "America septentrionali." It is therefore difficult to decide which of the two names has priority as the specific designation. If the S. funerca is to be regarded the same in both editions, then this name, as occurring first on the page, would be entitled to that claim; but there is nothing whatever in the account of Strix funerea of edition 10 to show that it is anything more than the European Hawk Owl; or, in other words, the same as the species called on the same page S. ulula. As the matter stands, we prefer to take funerea of 1766 as the earliest date of the name as applied to the American bird, and to call the species S. ulula, the latter name being of certain application in the 10th edition, while it precedes funerea in the 12th. 347. Falco FUSCO-CÆRULESCENS, Vieill.-See Sharpe, "Catalogue of the Accipitres in the British Museum," I, p. 400. 353. Buteo ABBREVIATUS, Caban.-See Sharpe, as above, p. 163, who, however, refers it to the genus "Tachytriorchis." See, also, Sclater & Salvin's "Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium," p. 118. 363. Polyborus CHERIWAY (Jacq.) Caban.-See Sharpe, t. c., p. 33. This species appears to be quite distinct from P. tharus. 364. PSEUDOGRYPHUS californianus (Shaw) Ridgw.-Concerning the validity of this genus, see Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club., April, 1880, p. —. 366. CATHARISTA (atrata, Bartr.).—If the name atrata, as now almost universally applied to this species, is to be accredited to Bartram, it has priority over all the synonyms; but if we are to reject Bartram's names on account of his frequent "lapses" from binomialism, or his equally bad practice of omitting descriptions (which, however, is not the case with regard to his mention of the present species), then urubu of Vieillot (1809) takes precedence over atrata of Wilson (1812), which comes next in order of date. 368. Columba ERYTHRINA, Licht.-Although there is no law compelling the adoption of a museum name, I prefer to do so in this case rather than propose a new one, since Lichtenstein's name erythrina is a very appropriate one. The name by which this species has usually been known— C. "flavirostris, Wagler"-is "glaringly false," and, therefore, to be rejected, according to the rules of the British Association.* It is true that the bill sometimes appears yellowish in the dried skin, but in life it is always some shade of purple or pink, whitish at the extremity. Whatever it may be, it is impossible to identify McCall's C. solitarius with this species. If his description was really penned from a specimen, his bird has not yet been rediscovered, no known North American Pigeon corresponding at all closely with his description. In any event it cannot be the present species, which never has "brilliant reflections" on either neck or breast, nor the back or under wing-coverts "light-red color." 378. ORTALIS vetula maccalli (Baird) Ridgw.-In regard to this emendation of the generic name, see Wharton, "The Ibis," Oct., 1879, p. 450. I find the Texan birds easily distinguishable from Mexican examples (true vetula). 380. CANACE canadensis (Linn.) Reich.-None of the American grouse usually referred to Tetrao resemble at all closely the type of the latter genus, T. urogallus, Linn. They appear, in fact, nearly as distinct from Tetrao proper as are Bonasa or Pediœcetes, or other recognized American genera. It seems scarcely advisable, however, to admit a genus "Dendragapus" for the special accommodation of C. obscura in its various forms. 396. Charadrius DOMINICUS, Müll.-Müller's name for the American Golden Plover, dating 1776, should take precedence over fulvus, Gmel., bestowed twelve years later (1788), as the name of the species. The Asiatic form should therefore be called C. dominicus fulvus (Gmel.) Cf. Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Jan., 1880, p. 37. |