Tavern er — On Ornithology a Science. 12 



ORNITHOLOGY A SCIENCE. 



P. A. TAVERNER. 



A short time ago I had the question put to me by an Orni- 

 thologist — "What is the use?" "What is it all for?" and the 

 statement was advanced that Ornithology is not a science but 

 merely an amusement. This is not the only time this query 

 has reached me. I have met it many times before in various 

 forms, and perhaps a few thoughts that it has raised may be 

 of value to others faced with the same problem. 



Of course economic ornithology has a practical purpose, 

 and affects our welfare directly. The food of birds has a di- 

 rect influence upon our pockets, and is a practical study. Pure 

 science, however, is in no sense practical. As soon as its dis- 

 coveries become practically applied it ceases to be science in 

 the strict use of the term. Franklin's experiment with the 

 kite was scientific, in as much as he proved the identity of 

 lightning, and electricity. The making and applying of light- 

 ning rods is not scientific but electro-mechanical, though 

 founded upon scientific principals. Science then is the study 

 of the laws of nature, not the practical application of them. 



Man is an inquiring being. The lower animals also are in- 

 quisitive, but with this difference — they ask, "What is it?" 

 "Is it good to eat or not?" "Harmful or friendly?" This an- 

 swered they are satisfied. Man, on the other hand, no sooner 

 settles these questions than he immediately asks, "Why or 

 how is it?" And this is the riddle of the Sphinx, that all the 

 world is trying to answer. What are we? Where did we 

 come from and whither are we going? The Church-man 

 points to the Scriptures for an answer, and that for ages suf- 

 ficed. This gives a vague starting point and an equally vague 

 objection, but with no details between ; and it is these inter- 

 mediate details that science is attempting to fill in. Nor can 

 it be held to be disrespectful or antagonistic to religion or the 

 Deity to suppose that in going from one point to another we 

 must pass through intermediate space, and to speculate there- 

 upon. This speculation is the domain of science and the 



