Letters, Extracts, Notices, fyc. 267 



number of complimentary copies ; but I wholly agree with 

 Graf v. Berlepsch that such distribution would not of itself 

 constitute a valid publication. Since, however, the ' Bulletin ' 

 and ' Memoirs ' of the Museum can be purchased when they 

 appear through recognised and stated channels of trade, as 

 well as from the Museum itself, it is evident that in their 

 issuance all the requirements of commercial publication are 

 complied with. 



Yours &c, 



Frank M. Chapman. 

 American Museum of Natural History, 

 New York City, Feb. 25, 1903. 



Sirs, — With no desire to enter the three-cornered duel 

 in which Messrs. Allen, Grant, and Nelson have so pleasantly, 

 entertainingly, and instructively engaged, Mr. Grant's side- 

 shot at the writer in your issue for January 1903 (p. 109) 

 provokes, if, indeed, it does not compel, a reply- 

 In brief, I am charged with having described a subspecies 

 of Ptarmigan [Lagopus leucurus peninsularis) from " only 

 one female specimen in autumn plumage"! Surely no 

 tribunal of systematic ornithologists would deny that this 

 is a casus belli ! One might almost as well be accused of 

 giving an opinion on a geographical race of which he had 

 never seen a specimen ! 



However, if Mr. Grant will do me the favour to turn 

 to the reference which he quotes from the American Museum 

 ' Bulletin' (vol. xvi. p. 236), he will find the following words 

 appended to the description of the Ptarmigan in question : 

 " Of this new form the collection contains the following 26 

 specimens, all from the Kenai Mts/' 



Trusting that the difference between one and twenty-six 

 is sufficient to warrant this correction, 



I am yours &c, 



Frank M. Chapman. 

 American Museum of Natural History, 

 New York City, Feb. 25, 1903. 



