THE OS PREY. 



137 



Letter Box. 



CoxcERXiNG Dk. Gill's Pkoposed History. 



Washington, April 2^th, 1899. 

 Editor of the Osprey: 



I take pleasure in acknowleclffing- the receipt 

 of a number of letters on the proposition to com- 

 mence soon the publication of a new History of 

 North American Birds, and cordially thank the 

 writers, one and all, for their expressions of 

 good will and offers of help. Two of the letters 

 contain sug-g-estions which call for comment. 



A noteworthy recommendation is made by Mr. 

 Frank L. Burns, that a special paragraph 

 should be devoted to the consideration of the 

 bird when at rest. "Inasmuch as the average 

 bird spends one third of its time sleeping," Mr. 

 Bvirns suggests that "a place be found for roost- 

 ing, the datum following that on flight." The 

 datum may be added to the others, and the sug- 

 g^estion bv Mr. Burns as to its sequence may be 

 adopted. 



Another noticeable comment has been made 

 by Mr. Ernest, IngersoU. He asks "in your se- 

 quence of data would not it be more natural and 

 philosophical to put 'age of pairing' alongside 

 of the item 'mating,' instead of where it stands?" 

 The question is very natural and proper: but. for 

 my purposes, the proposition is not acceptable. 

 Mr. IngersoU has butted against a terminologic 

 snag and we will remove the offending obstacle 

 — the word "pairing" — in one case. 



The enumeration of points or data in my "se- 

 quence of data" may be segregated into three 

 groups: (ll those relating solely to the mor- 

 phology or corpus of a bird: (2) tho.se relating 

 to the habits of a bird: (3| tho.se relating to the 

 influence on the bird from external .sources or 

 subjectively. In our .sequence, the first three 

 categories belong- to the fir.st, the succeeding 

 seventeen to the second, and the last to the 

 third of those groups. The last of the second 

 group — "age of pairing" — concludes the history 

 of the young- and connects with the mature 

 bird as first contemplated. The word .-tilole- 

 si'i'iii'i' may therefore be used in place of Age 

 of pairing, and the ambiguity which may 

 trouble others be thus removed. The word 

 "mating" in the second group refers to the 

 pairing of the adults in each spring or after they 

 return to their nesting quarters. 



We are nnich obliged to Messrs. Burns and 

 IngersoU, as well as to all our other correspond- 

 ents, for their suggestions and appreciation. 

 Yours truly, 



Theo. Gill. 



Old Orch.^kd. Mo., April 3d, 1899. 

 Dr. Theodore Gill: 



De.\k Sir: — As you wish to get the opinion of 

 every one, I feel it my pleasant duty to inform 

 you that your proposition of a g'reat work, as set 

 forth in the February Osprev. strikes me very 

 favorably. In fact, nobody can deny that the 

 want of a standard modern work on North 

 American birds is felt more and more keenly as 

 time and science prog-ress. My views are in 

 perfect accord with everything you say on the 

 subject, and I really admire the wisdom of your 

 plan in its entirety, as well as in all its details. 



Most heartily do I welcome, among- others, 

 your propo.sed innovation in the treatment of 



the subspecies, and I am sure it will find the ap- 

 proval of the majoritj" of bird students. 



What you say of extralimital species is also 

 very pertinent; it is simply incomprehensible 

 how in local lists the old method of placing a 

 stray bird on the same footing with a regular 

 constituent of the fauna could be retained so 

 long. Just behold the absurdity of enumerating 

 the Man-o'-War among the birds of the State of 

 Kansas! 



While your timely and excellent proposition 

 by itself merits the lasting gratitude of all in- 

 terested in North American birds, we would be 

 still more indebted to you, if you would induce 

 our highly esteemed Dr. Elliott Coues to join 

 you in the editorship. I know nothing that 

 would give me more pleasure in looking forward 

 along ornithological projects, and I hope that 

 ways and means may be found soon to carry 

 your plan not only into effect, but also to a most 

 successful end. 



As a suggestion, allow me to expressly endorse 

 j'our statement in regard to the desirabillity of 

 using quotations from well-known biographies. 

 A large number of passages from the works of 

 early authors have had the misfortune of being 

 quoted several times too often, and though they 

 may be ever .so expressive and ornamental, it 

 would be painful to find them cited again in a 

 new work. 



Another thing worth mentioning may be the 

 necessity of a correct pronunciation of scientific 

 names, establishing a standard by which we 

 could do away with the present confusion, caused 

 by the use of three difterent methods, not speak- 

 ing- of those who have no method at all. The 

 pronunciation given in Coues' Check List of '82 

 should.Ithink.be acceptel and adhered to bv 

 all. 



Wishing- you best success in your praiseworthy 

 endeavor, I am. 



Yours truly . 



( ). WruMANX. 



Berwvn. Penna.. March 2Sth, 1899. 

 Dr. Theodore Gill: 



Dear Sir: — Your open letter in the February 

 Osi'REV was read with much interest. 



I am particularlj' struck with your sugges- 

 tions of a complete revision of the Osn'nes, and 

 reduction in rank of "subspecies." 



Every student, while in search of special infor- 

 mation bearing on the life history of a bird, has 

 felt the need of concise up-to-date biographies 

 under one cover -of course with free quotations 

 selected from the best of Wilson, Audubon. 

 Coues, and others. 



Inasmuch as the average bird spends one 

 third of its time sleeping, I would sugg-est that 

 a place be found for roosting, the datum follow- 

 ing that on flight. 



If I can be of any service. I will gladly con- 

 tribute data on a few species of which I will 

 make an especial study. 



Yours truly. 



Frank L. Birns. 



