Defence of certain Trench NatU7'alists, 105 



been supported by unanswerable proof. In our " Synopsis of 

 Birds recently discovered in Mexico," published in the Philo- 

 sophic Magazine and A?inals for June 1827, we described a 

 new and beautiful woodpecker, distinguished from all others 

 of its family by having the shafts of the quill and tail feathers 

 of the brightest vermilion. As coming from Mexico, we 

 named it Colaptes mexicanus. Eighteen months after, in the 

 Zoological Journal (No. xv. p. 353.), we have a paper by Mr. 

 Vigors, where this woodpecker is again described as new to 

 science, under the name of Colaptes collaris. On the same 

 occasion we shortly described another remarkable bird, equally 

 conspicuous, and equally easy to be recognised in a short 

 specific character by the student ; we called it Pica formosa. 

 Mr. Vigors describes this also, in the same paper, as new to 

 science, and calls it Pica Collier?. Now, if this gentleman 

 could plead ignorance of our previous descriptions, as an ex- 

 cuse for giving to the world accounts of new animals, which 

 in fact were not so, it would all be well ; and we should only 

 hint, that a little more care in consulting the current scientific 

 publications of the day, those, in fact, which are upon every 

 bookseller's counter, would be desirable. But Mr. Vigors, 

 unfortunate^, has not this excuse : he himself has informed 

 us that he knew this " Synopsis of Mexican Birds " perfectly 

 well. He not only knew it, but he has actually criticised it ! * 

 What, then, are we to say on this matter ? Simply, what we 

 believe : that the mistakes, however gross, are unintentional ; 

 and are only proofs of that looseness of research, and inaccu- 

 racy of observation, which the writings of this gentleman in 

 so many other instances unfortunately betray. 



We shofuld scarcely have thought it worth while to notice 

 these facts, except among the usual blunders and errors of 

 systematists, did not they forcibly illustrate the caution which 

 should be used, and the forbearance which should be exer- 

 cised, by labourers in the same science towards each other. 

 The most eloquent professions, and the most " honied " 

 assurances f of truth being our only guide, and amiti/ our 

 most sincere desire, are utterly worthless when not put into 

 practice ; and, as an excuse generally for all parties, we 

 may say ourselves, that in no part of technical natural history 

 is it more difficult, in its present chaotic state, to avoid error, 

 than in ascertaining what objects are really new to science. 



In regard to the national jealousy here attributed to " certain 

 French naturalists," we may be permitted to say a few words. 



* Zoological Journal, No. xi. vol. iii. p. 442.,' article " Qulsculus versi- 

 color." 

 f Zoological Journal, No. ix. vol. iii. p. 123. 



