Q 2 From Magazines, &c. I „,, 



Etnu 

 d Oct. 



creatures destroyed because of their petty depredations. Even 

 the much-abused Crow or Raven, taking it all the year round, 

 has been proved to be a farmer's friend more than an enemy, and 

 the gracetul and merry Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater is only seen 

 about metropolitan gardens in winter time, departing inland for 

 its breeding haunts during the harvest season. Were the intro- 

 duced birds destructive to fruit — the Minah, Sparrow, Starling, and 

 Blackbird — mentioned at the end of Mr. French's paper wiped off 

 the face of the land, there need be no fear from any native birds. 



* * * 



The Aims of Ornithology. — Letters from prominent orni- 

 thologists on " The Future Problems and Aims of Ornithology " 

 are published in The Condor for May-June and July-August. 

 Dr. A. R. Wallace says that instinct and heredity are the 

 departments of biology in which most remains to be done. 

 Dr. L. Stejneger deplores the mass of unscientific ornithological 

 literature, which from its lack of arrangement is not even 

 useful as a source for the supply of facts to the scientist. 

 Nearly all the work must be done over again, and in an 

 entirely different manner, according to plan and system and 

 with definite objects in view. An ornithologist must be a 

 biologist as well. He may specialize, but on scientific lines. The 

 mere classifier and describer will soon be distanced. Birds are to 

 be studied in the light of other sciences, such as geography and 

 physiography, and in the light of study of other animals and plants, 

 fhe ornithologist must study under competent teachers, and at 

 first be guided by them. The time of the autodidact, the self-taught 

 man, says Dr. Stejneger, is past. The ornithologist must study 

 both in field and cabinet. For qualifications, he must have a know- 

 ledge of biology, general zoology, geology, and physiography. He 

 must gain detailed knowledge of species by patient work in the 

 study, and power of observation by training in the field. Then he 

 can start to specialize and study various problems under proper 

 guidance. The man of science has not to seek these problems ; 

 they grip him by the throat and demand solution. If these seem 

 to be counsels of perfection, we must remember that Dr. Stejneger' s 

 point of view is that of the man who makes ornithology his life- 

 work. He is not addressing the amateur, though, as he says, he 

 is not " down " on him. It is the amateur who poses as a scientific 

 ornithologist without having the true scientific mstinct who is the 

 nuisance, according to Dr. Stejneger. Dr. P. L. Sclater says there 

 is much work to be done in the branches of anatomy and pteryl- 

 ography, in which there are few workers at present. Mr. William 

 Brewster thinks with Dr. Stejneger that the problem concerning 

 the interrelation of bird with other animal life is the one best worth 

 attention. That is to say, we should study the " balance of nature " 

 and how it is maintained. Bird-migration is another problem far 

 from being exhausted. To the young ornithologist he says : — 

 " Study carefully the birds in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 your home, limiting yourself to a definite area." To become an 



