J 20 DICTIONARY OF BIRDS 



research. To that, however, we must not trust, but our duty is to proceed 

 steadily along the path that seems the straightest, making sure of every 

 step as we go. In this way we may be confident that the end, however 

 distant, will eventually arrive. The triple alliance of Morphology, 

 Palseontology and Geographical Distribution — when this last is rightly 

 understood — can be trusted to keep our steps from wandering and to guide 

 us to the goal we seek so far as the genealogy and relations of the several 

 groups of Birds are concerned, for that is what their true Classification 

 means. But Ornithology consists of much more than even a perfect 

 Taxonomy, the field of investigation is much wider, and includes subjects 

 that unfortunately have been too little considered by the higher intellects, 

 especially of late years. Though there is no fear of Morphology or 

 Palseontology failing to be attractive, the real lessons conveyed by the 

 facts of Geographical Distribution have been greatly neglected, while to 

 name only two other subjects of which our ignorance immeasurably 

 exceeds our knowledge. Migration and Variation still afford mysteries 

 that have scarcely been penetrated . Hybridism too, which will probably 

 lead to very important results, has never been investigated by a scientific 

 Ornithologist. There is therefore plenty of room for research, observa- 

 tion and experiment, so that no honest enquirer in any branch of the 

 study need feel discouraged by the prospect before him, unless indeed he 

 be dismayed by the very vastness of the unknown regions he has to 

 explore. 



