of the Chiffchaff and Willow- IVarhler. 31 3 



subspecies, and perhaps several other "incipient" ones^ be 

 well worth collecting with such an end iti view ? 



There should be no great difficulty ; the principal field of 

 observation is in an area well stocked with ornithologists ; 

 the subject wdthin the capabilities of all — the only requisite 

 is the wish to " find out." 



One so often hears it said that " Now the world has been 

 so travelled over, there is little of ornithological interest 

 left to discover," suggesting that when all the earth has 

 been quite explored and all the new birds discovered, there 

 will be nothing left for the field-ornithologist to do. 



But does not such a thoughtless remark arise from a dis- 

 proportionate regard for "classification" as the Ultima 

 Thule of ornithological research^ instead of only as a means 

 to an end ? 



Sir Joseph Hooker writes of Plants, " The objects of a 

 Classification of plants are to place before the mind, in a 

 clear manner, the relationships that exist between them, and 

 to express these relationships in precise terms, so that they 

 may be communicated orally or in writing and thus facilitate 

 and advance a knowledge of plants." 



And surely the same definition applies equally to all 

 branches of Natural History ? 



One cannot help thinking that if that principle were more 

 generally recognised and acted upon, it would tend, not only 

 10 prevent ornithological classification from becoming 

 stocked with phantom forms, but also towards the more 

 general recognition of forms which, though distinguished 

 only after a careful scrutiny of minutiae, are realities, and as 

 such (to use Dr. Hartert's simile) a "brick" towards the 

 building up of the house of Ornithological Knowledge. 



To return to the Chiffchaffs (if I have any friends left 

 among my readers after the last volley), may I suggest the 

 I'ollowing lines of action as likely to produce useful results, 

 besides having the meiit of presenting certain definite 

 objectives to any field-ornithologist who has the opportunity 

 of makiug the obseivations and the will to do so ? 



