Peter Rauch is right; after all the apologizing to other inhabitants of the
western hemisphere, we in the U.S. are still "Americans," because that's
what we've called ourselves these couple hundred years (just like a moorhen
is a gallinule is a moorhen). Maybe there should be a world body setting up
names of countries and their inhabitants, like the AOU Check-list Committee
does with North American birds. It would be great fun to start from
scratch.

I've seen Mexico called Los Estados Unidos de Mexico, so indeed we don't
have the corner on "United States" either. And Peter's really right, if I
understand his implication, that no one should throw stones because we all
live in glass houses. We'd be better off throwing flowers, if I remember my
1970s history.

And--further irony--where all of us Americans live was named after Amerigo
Vespucci, an Italian explorer? And do most Ecuadoreans know they were named
after an imaginary line? And can someone tell me the origin of "Canada?" It
sounds Spanish (canyon? cane?).

I like David Wright's comments too; "Cascadia" has been used for this
region. Do any of you remember the name "Ecotopia" that was coined for this
region in a book back in the 70s?

This shows us that "what's in a name?" is relevant for all sorts of
entities besides the birds we write about. Actually, "what's in a name?" is
one of my favorite questions.

Dennis (lover of fertility, wine and drama) Paulson (son of Paul)