28 DIE PAPAGEIEN. 



design of the great Master's work, or at any rate to furnish re- 

 liable materials to enable others to do this hereafter. 



Few and far between are those to whom the time and talents 

 are vouchsafed, to do more than collect a few sets of facts, which 

 some more favoured brother, some Darwin of the next generation, 

 may combine together with the work of many others like our- 

 selves, into some harmonious whole. 



But, if we cannot be architects, at least let us honestly make 

 our tale of bricks— let us observe and record facts and not waste 

 much time or thought over inessentials. Viewing the Natura- 

 list's work in its true light, how futile appears all the discussion 

 about synonymes, the fuss about purely classical names, and the 

 like ? What does it signify whether A or B first described the 

 species ? Pray Dr. Finsch how can it advance our real objects 

 one atom, to call a bird that every one recognizes as " colum- 

 boides " by your truly classical name " peristerodes ? " 



In conclusion, if I have criticised what appear to me to be Dr. 

 Finsch's foibles without much ceremony, in plain out-spoken lan- 

 guage, it must not be fancied that in so doing I am animated by 

 any personal feeling. On the contrary our relations have always 

 been most friendly, and I for one look forward confident!}' to his 

 doing greater and better things for the cause we ought all to 

 have at heart than he has yet attempted, or perhaps, even 

 thought of, but I should ill fulfil my duty as editor of the sole 

 Indian Ornithological Journal, if I did not rebuke, sans faqons, 

 his slighting treatment of the men to whom every Indian orni- 

 thologist owes so much, and if while appreciating and cordially 

 acknowledging the zeal and industry which he brings to the 

 work I did not protest, so far as in me lies, against systematic 

 defects, which threaten to impair so materially the scientific value 

 of that work. 



A. O. Hume. 



