286 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



suddenly turned mammalogist, and thinks to finish at a stroke a 

 work which he would not have ventured to attempt if he had had 

 the experience of a lifetime to guide him. 



Jn his last item Mi'. Tyrrell admits the grave omission which I 

 pointed oiit, and explains that for this the printer is responsible. 



It is greatly to be regretted that his desire for brevity induced Mr. 

 Tyrrell to put observations in such a shape as to deprive them 

 of nearly all value. 



But I would again assert that the specific errors pointed out are 

 not so much the grounds for my objection to the publication of the 

 paper as are the wrong principles on which it is based. 



Such methods of work might have passed unchallenged a hundred 

 years ago, but are decidedly behind the age now. The author's ideas 

 on distribution are nebulous in the extreme, he does not realize the 

 magnitude and im})ortance of such a work as he has undertaken, 

 and while, as already intimated, I admit him to be a person of, 

 at least, great enterprise, it is to be gi-eatly regretted that he has 

 attempted so much and done it so superficially and ill. Had he 

 limited his field and exercised proper care and research he might 

 liave rendered to science a really valuable service. 



Toronto, 19th March, 1890. 



