262 NOTES. 



sea has swept away the neck of land that once united it with 

 another island, it ceases for me to be a promontory, and earns 

 its distinctive name. Where time has obliterated the links 

 that once connected two closely alied forms, I would admit them 

 as distinct ; where the links yet remain unbroken, I should desire 

 to see them recognized as one species, widely as typical indivi- 

 duals selected from opposite ends of the scale may differ. 



Many of course will hold a contrary opinion and say that if 

 all the individuals found in A constantly differ from those in C, 

 they should be considered distinct species ; but this does not 

 necessarily follow ; on the contrary, if we can show that in B, 

 that lies between A and 0, a perfect series of forms occur inter- 

 mediate between those of A and C, then all must, according to 

 my view, be considered to pertain to one and the same species. 



As regards differences that are thus bridged over, I consider 

 them as justifying the recognition of a local race, but not as 

 warranting specific separation. Thus Coracias affirm, to give 

 the most familiar example, I consider a local race, because, though 

 typical examples of this supposed species differ widely from 

 Coracias indica, every intermediate link-form between the two 

 races regularly and constantly occurs. 



Local races may be incipient species, may become species 

 hereafter ; but just as the buds on fissiparous animalcules can- 

 not be properly called distinct animals until divided from the 

 parent, so neither should these local races be considered distinct 

 species so long as they remain connected with each other by a 

 perfect chain of intermediate forms. 



Naturalists generally may not be prepared as yet to accept 

 the distinction thus drawn between a species and a local race, 

 but it is, I believe, what we shall all come to sooner or later ; it 

 is, I humbly conceive, the only way of dealing with the question 

 that is at once logical and capable of universal practical appli- 

 cation. 



A. O. H. 



Botes. 



& 



The accompanying — map, I fear I ought to call it, of Arboro- 

 phila Mandellii, though terribly out of drawing according to my 

 notion, sufficiently correctly represents the distribution and 

 colors of the markings, and will enable every one, I hope, to 

 recognize the bird (when met with) at a glance. I say when 

 met with, advisedly ; Captain Cuttles' standing recommendation 

 to make a note of, when found, would be excessively appropriate 

 in the present case. We know perfectly where the bird occurs, 



