" Splitters " and " Lumpers 



specimen he would subject to the same critical process, and if 

 the number of hairs was not just the same, or a small wart was 

 detected here or there, or a bristle grew in a place where 

 a bristle did not grow in the specimen previously examined, it 

 too, was described and a specific name was given it. It was as 

 if a man, sitting and looking out on the throng upon Broadv/ay, 

 should resolve to give every individual a specific name and 

 should declare he had seen as many species of men as he had 

 seen men passing his window. The labors of such naturalists 

 may be highly entertaining to themselves, but they are, to say 

 the least, provocative of unpleasant feelings in the minds of 

 others who come after them and are compelled to deal with and 

 review their labors. 



The "lumper," on the other hand, is a man who detects no 

 differences. "All cocoons look alike to me!" he says. Any two 

 moths which are of approximately the same size and the same 

 color, are, by him, declared to belong to the same species. 

 Questions of structure do not trouble him. General re- 

 semblances are the only things with which he deals. No 

 matter if eggs, larvse, legs, veins, and antenna? are different it 

 is "all one thing" to him. His genera are " magazines," into 

 which he stuffs species promiscuously. The "lumper" is the 

 horror of the "splitter," the "splitter" is anathema to the 

 " lumper"; both are the source of genuine grief and much hard- 

 ship to conscientious men, who are the possessors of normally 

 constituted minds and truly scientific habits. Nevertheless, we 

 are certain to have both "splitters" and "lumpers" in the 

 camps of science until time is no more. "This kind goeth 

 not forth" even for "fasting and prayer." 



" Look at this beautiful world, and read the truth 

 In her fair page; see every season brings 

 New change to her of everlasting youth 



Stil'. the green soil, with joyous living things 

 Swarms the wide air is full of joyous wings." 



Bryant. 



113 



