two such very similar names in his book by misadventure. Mr. Hartert
thinks that both names may be employed, uttos being the Greek for
“ weariness ; a tedious thing,” whilst airovs of course means " without
feet.” There are many names in use, I allow, equally similar in appearance,
Pica and Pious for example, but I think that even in this case it
may perhaps be better to suppress Pica as the generic name for the
Magpies. As the latinization of air os and airovs is the same, Apus, it is
better that one of them should become extinguished, and the name Apus
for the Swifts, being posterior in date to Apus in the Crustacea, should
be the one to disappear, especially as it has but recently been employed
by Ornithologists * . For my own part I gladly accept any excuse which
restores such a well-known name as Cypselus; and I only regret that
equally good reasons cannot be found to replace some of the old-fashioned
generic names which recent research proves to have been ante-dated.
These changes may be strictly correct, but they are very disturbing,
especially to those naturalists who are aiming at a universally recognized
nomenclature in Zoology. They appear, however, to be inevitable,
and one day we may hope to arrive at some degree of finality. I would
urge, however, on all ornithologists, that the fullest advantage should be
taken of any doubt which can prevent the displacement of some well-
known generic or specific name by a less-known one.
As with the previous volume, I have received the greatest assistance
from my colleagues, who have looked over the proofs of this second
volume of the ‘ Hand-list.’ Even with the ‘ Catalogue of Birds ’ as a
basis for a ‘ Hand-list,’ the production of the latter is an exceedingly
difficult task, and I shall greatly miss the revision of future volumes by
my late friend Dr. Elliott Coues, who gave me freely the result of his
great knowledge of birds and their literature. No friend could have
taken more interest in the work than he did, and his help was invaluable;
but the list of ornithologists who have gone over and criticised my
proofs is a long one, viz.:—
England.— Dr. P. L . Sclater, Mr. Howard Saunders, Hon. Walter
Rothschild, Mr. Ernst Hartert, Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant,
Mr. C. W. Andrews, Mr. Eugene Oates, Mr. W. P. Pycraft.
* Cf. Stejneger, Auk, 1884, p. 230; Keichenow, Ora. MB. 1897, pp. 9, 26 •
Hartert, Tierreich, Cypselidce, 1897 ; Bell, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) v. p. 480 (1900).’
France— The late Professor Milne-Edwards, Dr. Oustalet.
Holland.—Dr. Otto Finsch.
Germany.—Professor A. Reichenow, Dr. A. B. Meyer, Count
von Berlepsch.
Russia.—Dr. Bianchi.
Italy.—Count Salvador]’.
America.—The late Prof. Elliott Coues, Prof. Robert Ridgway,
Dr. L. Stejneger, Prof. J. A. Allen, Mr. Frank M. Chapman,
Mr. 0. W. Richmond, Mr. Witmer Stone, Mr. Harry Ober-
holser.
I offer my best thanks to all these kind friends for the help so
readily afforded.
May 27, 1900.
R. BOWDLER SHARPE.