Review of Dr. Finsch's ' Die Papageien.' 299 



(/. c. p. 28) Mr. Ilumo has this passage, " I should ill fulfil ray 

 duty as editor of the sole Indian ornithological journal, if I 

 did not rebuke, sans f actons, his slighting treatment of the 

 men to Avhom every Indian ornithologist owes so much/^ 

 As an old Indian field ornithologist, as one of Dr. Jerdon^s 

 oldest friends, one in whom his memory lingers the most 

 cherished of reminiscences, I protest against Mr. Hume's ar- 

 rogating to himself the right to speak in the name of Indian 

 ornithologists without better claim than the irresponsible edi- 

 torship of a recent Indian ornithological periodical, or to 

 exalt himself to the post of protector of Jerdon's, Blyth's, or 

 any other Indian naturalist's reputation. The scientific works 

 and deeds of those men are the common property of the sci- 

 entific world, and not of a narrow Calcutta clique ; and their 

 memories are far safer from reproach under the guardianship of 

 that great and increasing body of gifted, highly trained, and 

 generous men, than if left to the patronizing care of a carping, 

 indiscriminating, illiterate, and noxious advocacy. Mr. 

 Hume is at liberty to " rebuke " whomsoever he pleases. His 

 blame or his praise, at least his blame, will prove harmless. 

 But Mr. Hume cannot evade the responsibilities of a reviewer. 

 He cannot plead ignorance ; for as a reviewer he is bound to 

 bring to his task a reasonable amount of knowledge. Mr. 

 Hume has most mercilessly attacked the scientific reputa- 

 tion of Dr. Finsch. I care not for the faint praise accorded 

 to his minor merits. A reputation built up by many years of 

 devoted and honourable labour in the cause of zoological 

 science. A reputation as dear to him as our own is to any 

 one of us, perhaps more so, perhaps his all. The coarse jokes 

 or vulgar personalities, standing alone, might have passed un- 

 noticed; for a coarse and vulgar style is some men's mis- 

 fortune, and though exciting in supersensitive temperaments 

 sensations of nausea, is submitted to by the philosophic mind 

 with a shrug of the shoulder or a smile of resignation. But 

 the unscrupulous reviewer of the hard conscientious work of 

 a brother naturalist risks incurring that deserved odium 

 which, by the common voice, attaches to the judgments of an 

 unjust judge. 



