72 ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol. 11-No. 5 
ELE now that alist is published under the aus- 
I 
+, DN eee \ N pices of the authorities on nomenclature 
ORNITH pe LOGIST we hope that it may not be again tampered 
00506 18'T. 
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF 
WATURA Lh: AVS DOR, 
BIRDS; 
THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 
DESIGNED AS A MEANS FOR THE INTERCHANGE OF NOTES 
AND OBSERVATIONS ON BIRD AND INSECT LIFE, 
FREDERIC H. CARPENTER, Editor, 
REHOBOTH, MASS., 
FRANK B. WEBSTER, Publisher, 
409 WASHINGTON, ST., BOSTON, MASS. 
Editorial. 
The publisher announces that numbers 
9—12, Vol. X, of Tar OrnitrHoLosisr AND 
Ootoaisr cannot be supplied, except to 
those who will take the complete volume, 
as the calls for those numbers have been 
so numerous as to exhaust the supply of 
duplicates, and it destroys the utility of 
the volume to send out these copies alone. 
The question of bird protection is be- 
coming more widely discussed than ever. 
That something should be done to stop the 
slaughter is the expression of nearly all 
who interest themselves to ascertain the 
facts. Needless 
by the millinery trade, should cease, and 
destruction, as shown 
our readers should help on the work of 
humanity by pledging themselves against 
such a hideous crime. We would refer 
such to the Audubon Society, 40 Park Row, 
New York City, who will furnish circulars 
and pledges to applicants. 
Before us lie five Check Lists of N. A. 
Birds, and in arrangement no two are 
alike. We suppose that as the science ad 
vances it is necessary to keep pace with it, 
by issuing lists comprising the latest dis- 
coveries in the ornithological science, and 
with for a sufficient time to allow ornithol- 
ogists to systemize their collections by its 
instructions. We doubt if the A. O. U. 
List will come into universal use at present, 
as its price ($3) will place it beyond the 
reach of many who may desire several lists 
for use in labeling and exchange. 
The protection of birds is now being 
urged by both sentiment and _ statistics, 
and this endeavor to stop the wanton de- 
struction of our birds, should secure the 
efficient aid of all who desire a perpetua- 
tion of our race of songsters. Naturally, 
the cause which brought about this lamen- 
table decrease in the feathered tribe, re- 
ceives the attention of all who are inierest- 
edin the matter. By some wnaccounta- 
ble means the taxidermist is referred to as 
the guilty party, and as the fell destroyer 
of bird life. While admitting fully that 
the taxidermist does destroy life to a cer- 
tain extent, we must demur against the 
ban of condemnation under which he is 
placed. 
It might be well to say that the taxider- 
mist is not to be confounded with the ‘mu- 
tilator of bird skins,’ who works in the 
interest of the millinery trade, neither 
does he aspire to be ranked as a “scien- 
tist” (as the term is now used,) but occu- 
pying his own field of action, he invites 
inspection as to his methods and record. 
In this dilemma they are deserted by 
the class of men who should, froin a sense 
of justice, have firmly stood by them. We 
refer to certain of the professional orni- 
thologists, many of whom hive employed 
these taxidermists to collect for them. If 
we interpret law aright. the principal is 
held responsible with the agent; but these 
associated “scientists,” when asked to give 
the reason of the “scarcity of birds” will, 
with a Pharisaical air, point the scornful 
finger at the taxidermist. 
