278 FEMALE INDIGO FINCH. 



The remarkable disparity existing between the plumage of the dif- 

 ferent sexes of the common Indigo-bird, renders it almost indispensably 

 requisite that the female, unaccountably neglected by Wilson, as he 

 generally granted this distinction in similar, and often in less important 

 cases, should be figured in this work. Hardly any North American 

 bird more absolutely stands in need of being thus illustrated than the 

 beautiful Finch which is now the subject of our consideration. It could 

 scarcely be expected that the student should easily recognise the brilliant 

 Indigo-bird of Wilson's first volume, in the humble garb in which it is 

 represented in the annexed plate. But however simple in its appear- 

 ance, the plumage of the female is far more interesting and important 

 than that of the male, as it belongs equally to the young, and to the 

 adult male after the autumnal moult, and previous to the change which 

 ensues in the spring ; a large proportion of the life of the bird. 



The importance of a knowledge of these changes will also be duly 

 estimated on recurring to the copious synonomy at the head of our 

 article, by which it will be seen, that several nominal species have been 

 made by naturalists who chanced to describe this bird during its transi- 

 tions from one state to another. Errors of this kind too frequently 

 disfigure the fair pages of zoology, owing to the ridiculous ambition of 

 those pseudo-naturalists, who without taking the trouble to make investi- 

 gations, for which indeed they are perhaps incompetent, glory in pro- 

 claiming a new species established on a single individual, and merely on 

 account of a spot, or some such trifling particular ! The leading sys- 

 tematists who have enlarged the boundaries of our science have too 

 readily admitted such species, partly compelled to it perhaps by the 

 deficiency of settled principles. But the more extensive and accurate 

 knowledge Avhich ornithologists have acquired within a few years rela- 

 tive to the changes that birds undergo, will render thern more cautious, 

 in proportion as the scientific world will be less disposed to excuse them 

 for errors arising from this source. Linnd may be profitably resorted 

 to as a model of accuracy in this respect, his profound sagacity leading 

 him in many instances to reject species which had received the sanction 

 even of the experienced Bris^on. Unfortunately, Gmelin, who pursued 

 a practice directly the opposite, and compiled with a careless and indis- 

 criminating hand, has been the oracle of zoologists for twenty years. 

 The thirteenth edition of the Systema Naturce undoubtedly retarded the 

 advancement of knowledge instead of promoting it, and if Latham had 

 erected his ornithological edifice on the chaste and durable Linnean 

 basis, the superstructure would have been far more elegant. But he 

 first misled Gmelin, and afterwards suffered himself to be misled by him, 

 and was therefore necessarily betrayed into numerous errors, although 

 he at the same time perceived and corrected many others of his pre- 

 decessor. We shall not enumerate the nominal species authorized by 



