150 Ti-iR Wilson Bulletin — No. (58 



from the region of liis researclies for many years, it will be 

 seen that this is a wonderful showing in comparison to the 

 really small grand total ; and more extraordinary still, all 

 of his birds are identifiable at the present time, except a single 

 species. His English names have always been popular, and 

 the majority of them are very appropriate, acceptable with 

 occasional modifications through all these years, without fixed 

 rule or reason. 



But the correct delineation of several hundred species of 

 birds nor the exposition of a few score of nondescripts, do 

 not begin to express the services of Alexander Wilson to 

 American Ornithology. His work was far more than a mere 

 descriptive and illustrated catalogue of the birds he had 

 found. He ennobled science and literature without sacrificing 

 that charming sim])licity of expression which reached and 

 educated the people as few works of like nature have done. 

 Ornithology cannot begin to measure his services in creating 

 the proper sentiment in this country. "Xo othe.r work on 

 American ornithology has been so much talked and written 

 about as this : and the time for comment on its character is 

 long gone by. The 'melancholy ]ioet-naturalist' occupies a 

 place as changeless as the hills, and wholly peculiar. He 

 stands toward American ornithologists in a ]:)Osition corres- 

 ponding somewhat to that which is occu])ied in England by 

 White of Selbourne. in (iermany by Bechstein. and 1 will 

 add. among anglers by Izack W'alton." ^ 



In later complimentary honors. Wilson has not fared so 

 badly. One genus, llllsoiiia Bonaparte, was created in 1838, 

 and has been recently revived. Of the thirteen or more spe- 

 cific terms named in honor of Wilson, two survive — Oclith- 

 nd mill Its -ii'ilsoiiia (Ord) \\'ilson's Plove.r, and Asia n'llsoii- 

 iaiiiis (Lesson) American Eong-eared Owl. Tn the vernacular 

 names he has fared still better: — Wilson's l^ctral Occoiiitcs 

 occanicus. Wilson's Phalarope Stc^^aiiopiis tricolor, Wilson's 

 Snijie GaUina^o dcl'icata, W^ilson's Warbler U'llsonia pusilla, 

 and Wilson's Thrush Tnrdiis fiisccscciis. 



' Coues. I'.irds of Colorado Valley, p. COO. 



