164 DwiGHT, Variations of the America7t Goldfincli. Fa"^ 



is that niceties in dimension mean very little unless the measure- 

 ments are taken by one person. It is equally true that small 

 variations in color cannot be described so as to be understood by 

 anyone but the describer. So it comes about that the geographi- 

 cal race of to-day, depending on minor variations, cannot be 

 recognized by its published description, but rests upon characters 

 which may only be made out by studious comparison, not of single 

 skins, but of series of them. It may be said that the individual 

 and seasonal variations to which I have called attention are trivial. 

 That may be true, but they are quite as real as recognized 

 geographical differences. 



While I am ready to admit th.2i.tpa/Hdiis and salicamans are per- 

 haps quite as good races as others that pass current, I must confess 

 I fail to see the scientific value of naming variations so equaled 

 and overlapped by individual and seasonal differences that only a 

 small percentage of specimens in hand can be identified without 

 first knowing the locality from which they come. Identification 

 of the specimen is, of course, only a secondary matter in proving 

 variation by averages, but, it seems to me, unless variations wide 

 enough to be recognized by other students are established, the 

 naming of a race becomes a mere matter of personal opinion 

 or personal vanity. 



