Page:Bird-lore Vol 08.djvu/211

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The Amount of Science in Oology 169 FALL MIGRATION Grinnell, la Ottawa, Ont. ... Toronto, Ont. . . . Glen Ellyn, 111. . . . St. John, New Brunswick Pittsfield, Me Hartford, Conn Southeastern New York . Renovo, Pa Berwyn, Pa Raleigh, N. C New Orleans and vicinity No. of years' records Average date of last one seen September 20 September n September 28 September 24 October 13 October 7 October 8 October 15 October 10 October 18 Latest date of last one seen September 21, 188 September 13, 1 8S September 28, 1 8c October 1, 1897 September 17, 18S September 30, 185 October 20, 1900 October 12, 1891 October 12, 1901 October 31, 1893 October 14, 1890 October 26, 1800 SENNETTS WARBLER Breeds in northern Mexico and along the lower Rio Grande in Texas. It winters in Mexico and has been taken the last week of February, 1880, on the Rio Grande near Hidalgo. The Amount of Science in Oology Editor Bird-Lore: In your May- June issue is published an article by Thos. H. Montgomery, Jr., that is so unreasonable and so narrow in its ideals that we feel called upon to protest against it. His statement that the great majority of oologists do not deserve the name of scientist, and that the subject of dead egg-shells admits of very limited scientific treat- ment, is hardly borne out by either the law or an enlightened public opinion. He sets up an argument of his own design, based on inaccurate, so-called facts, and then carefully tries to knock it down, proving conclusively, to his own satisfaction, that the study of embryology is the only branch of oology worth attention, and that as practically none of the oologists care a rap about embryology, therefore they are not conducting scientific research and should not be granted a state license to make a collection of eggs. He wants to know how many oologists are acquainted with Wolf, Pander, Packer and Balfour, and other embryologists. The writer has been a bird student for nearly fifty years and owns a good library, yet is free to confess that he never even heard of any of the above gentlemen before. Has Mr. Montgomery ever heard of Chas. £. Bendire, Spencer F. Baird, Oliver Davie or Dr. B. H. Warren ? The Smithsonian Institution, at least, does not think they have lived in vain. I have personal acquaintance with quite a number of oologists and egg- collectors, and can say that they are doing good, clean, scientific work in