SPENCER F. BAIRD. 735 



investigation relating to each species, is more extensive, reliable, and 

 elaborate than any before presented. With few exceptions, citations 

 were orijiinai, and whet), as occasionally liap])ened, they were neces- 

 sarily at second-hand the fact was always indicated. The text com- 

 prised not only diagnoses and descriptions of each species, but extended 

 and elaborate commentary, com])arisons, and criticisms. 



In this learned and sagacious work Professor Baird was aided by 

 Cassin and Lawrence, two of the leading ornithologists of America. It 

 exerted au influence perhaps strongly and more widely felt than any of its 

 predecessors, Audubon and Wilson not excepted, and marked an epoch 

 in the history of American ornithology. The data original to and em- 

 bodied in this work have been used again and again by subsequent 

 writers with various modifications. Such a monument of original re- 

 search is likely to remain for an indefinite period a source of inspira- 

 tion to other writers, while its authority as a work of reference will al- 

 ways endnre. 



The publication of this work rendered possible the studies and prog- 

 ress of a large number of ])ersons, who without it would hardly have 

 been able to enter the domain of scientific ornithology, but who, aided 

 by the book as a standard of reference and by the genial correspond- 

 ence and preguant suggestions of its author, have made reputations of 

 more or less distinction for valuable and permanent original investiga- 

 tion. The number of those who profited by this stimulation has been 

 very large, and in this way arose what has been called* the Baird- 

 ian School of Ornithologists, a school characterized by exactitude 

 in matters of fact, conciseness in deductive statement, and care- 

 ful analysis of the sul)ject in all its various bearings. Its work 

 is marked by a careful separation of the data from the conclusions de- 

 rived from them, so that conclusions or arguments can be traced back 

 to their sources and duly weighed, while the writings of the older 

 European school afford little basis for analysis. In substance, accord- 

 ing to Dr. Stejneger, the European method required an investigator to 

 accei)t an author's statements and conclusions on his personal respon- 

 sibility alone, while the method originated by Baird furnishes him with 

 tangible facts from which to make his deductions. 



Tliese distinctive features were still further developed by the publi- 

 cation in 18()t-'0G of the "Review of American Birds," a work of un- 

 equaled merit, displaying in their perfection Professor Baird's wonder- 

 ful powers of analysis and synthesis, so strongly combined in his treat- 

 ment of difficult i)rol)lems. Although never comi)leted, this work has 

 received unstinted praise from all competent to estimate it. It is said 

 on excellent authority that no other single work on American birds has 

 made so profound an impression on foreign ornithologists, notwith- 

 standing the fact that circumstances prevented it from being made 

 complete. 



* Stejneger, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1884, vii, p. 7(i. 



