° igj2 J Correspondence. 565 



scientific names typographically, as well as by attainments in his own field. 

 Let him be located, preferably, at Washington, because of the library and 

 museum facilities there. His task should be, not to pass judgment upon 

 any forms not in his own special group or groups, but to unify the whole 

 output. This should consist of a co-ordinated set of contributions each 

 from the specialist most familiar with the group concerned. It may well 

 be, then, that but a single person shall stand as authority for the status 

 of forms in any one group; or one student may be responsible for several 

 groups which he may have worked in. The danger of uneven treatment 

 throughout the entire production could not of course be wholly eliminated, 

 because of variability in personal ability or standards, and this in spite 

 of careful editing. But the results would surely be far nearer the truth 

 than those exemplified in the Sixteenth Supplement. 



To summarize: the present Check-List, especially as including the last 

 supplement, is unsatisfactory to both the amateur and the specialist in 

 respect to the subspecies problem. It is suggested that a new Check-List, 

 with subspecies omitted altogether, would be hailed with appreciation by the 

 great majority of bird students, with whom such an abridged list would 

 meet all requirements. 



The Committee, as at present constituted, has all the qualifications to 

 enable it to compile and keep up to date such a Check-List. Such a list 

 of species should prove even more popular than the present one. 



It is further suggested that an entirely distinct publication, though 

 second in importance, would justify itself, enumerating the results of the 

 specialist's studies to the very limit to which his perceptions allow him to 

 proceed. But it is contended that no committee can have the qualifica- 

 tions in either time or ability, to pass judgment upon all the proposed cases. 

 Rather should such a technical list be a carefully edited compendium of 

 conti-ibutions from all specialists of recognized standing, each treating 

 of the group or groups in which he has personally worked. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



Joseph Grinnell. 

 Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 

 Berkeley, California, 

 August 27, 1912. 



[In reply to Mr. Grinnell's communication, the author of the editorial 

 remarks on the A. O. U. Committee on Nomenclature and its functions, 

 in ' Notes and News' of the July Auk, begs to say that while he is a member 

 of the Committee, the remarks represented his own personal views on the 

 matters discussed and may or may not reflect the opinions of the Committee 

 as a whole. The same may be said of the following comments upon Mr. 

 Grinnell's communication. 



As to the question of classification raised by Mr. Grinnell, the writer 

 feels that there is perhaps as much to be said on one side as the other. 

 If there had been a generally recognized system available it would unques- 



