84 THIE CONDOR Vol. XIII stable nomenclature, except mostly those of sentiment ? Suppose some early writer did call the Eastern Bluebird Sia/ia sialis in Trego's Geography in 1843 or some other obscure book ? If he did not care enough about publishing it in the proper channels why should we take the trouble to resuscitate a name that now lies' buried ? And as a fact these early workers were in the true sense seldom discov- erers of many of the species they named, for many of these birds were known by name to the Indians for untold centuries perhaps, before the white man came. And that the former were often close observers of bird life can be seen by perusal of those unique articles in the earlier volumes of The Osprey by Chief Pokagon of the Pottawattomies: "Ke-gon Pe-nay-sey and Win-ge-zee, "?- "Au-mon Re-nay- sshen,"2' and "O-jaw:aw-ne".3' There is something pathetic in the writings of this old Indian chief, almost the last of a vanishing race, telling,' and with a rare command of language, of youthful journeys from his wigwam through the un- brokcn wilderness to study the birds. Ridgway has said that "the classification of birds, their synonymies * * * * is scientific." This is no doubt true, but to me the continual wrangling and wrest- ling over priority seems a rather mild form of it, and I think it is apparent that no matter what arguments are offered in favor of the present system, that it is detri- mental to the advancement of ornithology, and proof lies in the fact that even some of the museums, wearied by the endless change of names have adopted the vernacu- lar in labeling skins. I have little doubt that a post card ballot of active ornitho- logists would show an overwhelming majority in favor of nomenclatural stability. Unscientific ornithology, such as those inexact, careless or exaggerated articles which frequently appear in current magazines or newspapers, merits but a passing notice. Most of these articles are soon forgotten, as they deserve to be. Yet even though they misinform, as they serve to- interest the general public in bird study they are to some extent beneficial. The most glaring collection of mis-statements I ever read was published in the San Francisco Ca//, February. 3, 1895, entitled "The Singing Birds of California." Illustrations from Wood's Natural History were used in ?onnection, and our state credited with such surprising species as the Vervain Hummingbird, Chaffinch, Yellow Hammer, 4 etc. The text is on a par' with the illustrations and a very short excerpt will suffice: "The orchardist does declare war against. the yellow-hammer which belongs to the family of buntings and is cousin to the ortolan. He feeds on almonds when they are young and milky and they make the bird very toothsome picking for the epicure. He has a cry rather than a song which is variously translated." Perhaps in this latter respect there will be found considerable resemblance between the cry mentioned and the bird of the excerpt itself. The opinion seems prevalent that the combination of a good writer and a good ornithologist is rare, and that the polish literature gives an article on ornithology is detrimental to its interests. With those who hold such views I beg to differ. If one refers to the work of almost any of our foremost ornithologists it will be found, I think, that while their style. is not highly figurative, for the occasion seldom de- mands it, it is almost always fluent, forceful and clear. In fact the true scientist, is, I think, one who has mastered the intricate details of his work and is able to tell of them. If he lacks the flow of words to depict his discoveries or theories in accurate, dear and convincing language how can we much believe in his accom- The White-headed ?agle and the Osprey, Vol. I, p. 51. The Chimney Swift, VoL I, p. 120. The Bluebird, Vol. II, p. 102. Not Colapies cafer collaris; the bird in the cut is evidently Ernberi*a cilrlnella.
