134 SCIENCE SKETCHES. 



of species and varieties, in the study of the rela- 

 tions of these groups to each other and to their ^ 

 environment — American ornithology stands in the 

 very front of systematic science. 



We may therefore, in the various stages through 

 which our ornithology has passed or is passing, 

 read the future history of our own branches of 

 science. In many regards the ornithologists are 

 fighting our battles for us, and we may take ad- 

 vantage of the results won by their efforts. Thus 

 the discussion of climatic influences on the char- 

 acter of species, first seriously taken up by Mr. 

 Joel A. Allen in 1871, which has culminated in 

 the trinomial system of nomenclature, has relieved 

 workers in other fields from the need of urging 

 the same considerations. As soon as our facts are 

 sufficient for us to use the trinomial system, we 

 shall find it ready for our service, perfected in all 

 its details. Again, the absolute importance of the 

 law of priority has impressed itself on the orni- 

 thologists in spite of themselves ; for in past times 

 the students of birds have been among those who 

 have most sinned against this law. The efforts 

 of Cassin, Coues, Stejneger and others to ascer- 

 tain the facts in regard to old names, have shown 

 that no possible middle ground exists between 

 chaos and law in matters of nomenclature. It 

 is quite true, as the authors of the *' Code " have 

 insisted, that " nomenclature is a means and not an 

 end in science." But the experience of ornitholo- 

 gists has shown us that in systematic zoology and 

 in zoogeography, this means is one absolutely es- 

 sential to any end of importance. A system of 



