234 MR J. B. DOBBIE ON 
preface to his work on oology just being published (Die 
Ever der Vogel Mittelewropas), writes as follows: “ Oology, 
in its strictest sense, which is exclusively concerned with 
the external properties of eggs, and which was formerly 
regarded by scientific collectors merely as an idle amuse- 
ment, has rapidly risen to the rank of an exact science, 
since it has shown that the external characteristics of the 
ego-shell are not the results of accident, but are a by no 
means to be depreciated criterion of the respective rela- 
tions of the various groups of birds, while it also furnishes 
us with the means of discovering how the characteristics to 
which we have alluded, and which distinguish the individual 
bird, have become difficult to trace, or have completely 
vanished, owing to adaptation to changed conditions of life. 
For these reasons it has become, at the present day, almost 
indispensable to the systematologist. We do not mean to 
say that it would be possible to pursue systematology 
purely from an oologist’s point of view, but we do say that 
a system which would seek to establish itself without the 
aid of oology is by no means adequate to the advanced state 
of science.” 
It is clear, therefore, that the apathy or prejudice of the 
present school of ornithologists—it is only fair to add of 
British ornithologists—is unfortunate and deplorable. For 
the many attempts made during recent years to forraulate a 
satisfactory classification of birds, whether founded on in- 
ternal or external characters, have all proved unsatisfactory. 
Indeed, the researches of the morphologist seem only to 
have made the chaos greater than ever. Linnzus, as every 
one knows, placed the Raptores at the head of the Class; 
but in the system adopted by the three great ornitholo- 
gical bodies of the world—the Ornithologists’ Unions of 
England, Germany, and America—the royal Eagle has had 
to give place to the lowly Thrush. But this classification, 
too, has become effete; and such authors as feel loyally 
bound to conform to it, usually apologise for doing so, In 
the more recent and more scientific taxonomic system, 
elaborated chiefly by Professor Newton, Music has had to 
give way to Wisdom, and we find the Thrush supplanted 
by the Crow. But even this classification, based as it is 
