Dr. E. Hartert — Some Anticriticisms. 545 



been made. Other names are not even mentioned, though 

 described binomially. No doubt this is the praised steadfast 

 adherence to the " old system/' which allowed only one form 

 of the Barn-Owl and only one of the Long-eared Owl. But 

 the majority of ornithologists are no longer content with the 

 "old system," Science has progressed in rapid strides within 

 the last twenty years. We all know now that these Owls, as 

 well as most other birds, are not the same everywhere, but 

 that they are easily separable into various geographical forms. 

 The study of these geographical representatives — or sub- 

 species, as they are now, somewhat unfortunately, called — is 

 scientifically of the same importance as that of the widely 

 different species, and neither Mr. Dresser nor the Editors of 

 ' The Ibis ' will be able to stop the progress in that direction, 

 whatever they may do. If this is admitted, and I am sure it 

 is not necessary to explain the importance and the necessity 

 that local forms should be studied, then we must also have 

 names for them, in order to talk of them ; and it is most 

 unfortunate that some of the leading British ornithologists 

 still refuse trinomials for them ! What can be more simple 

 than calling all the Crested Larks (except those belonging 

 to G. theklce, a distinct species living in the same area as 

 some forms of G. cristata) Galerida cristata, adding a third 

 name when the various local races are discussed : Galerida 

 cristata pallida, Galerida cristata riggenbachi, Galerida 

 cristata nigricans, Galerida cristata cristata, Galerida cristata 

 iiiacrorhyncha, Galerida cristata arenicola, &c. ? What 

 serious objection can be made to this very simple method, 

 which leaves it open to everyone to use binomial or tri- 

 nomial names — trinomials if the local forms are discussed, 

 binomials if the broad facts (species) only are recognised ? 

 This choice to use binomials or trinomials is one of the 

 advantages of our system, every trinomial being easily 

 reduced into a binomial, while the other method muzzles us 

 and forces its contentions on to us without choice. 



But what was and what is the praised "old system"? 

 Let me quote instances from the last-named group, that of 

 the Crested Larks, so as to remain at one subject. 



