368 Dr. A. G. Butler,


The general colour of the bird is black with blue spots,

which on the primaries run together forming blue lines. The

outer edges of the secondaries are white. Round the base of the

neck and on the chest there is a wide collar of pure black. The

head and neck are bare except for a fine crest of curly black

feathers and are of a dark slaty colour, the chin and throat being

red. The skin at the back of the neck is folded in a curious

manner and looks like a piece of ribbon tied round the bird's

neck. On the throat also, the red skin is folded on each side

looking not unlike large wattles.



IS AVICULTURE A SCIENCE?

By Dr. A. G. Butler.

In his introductory notes to the Class Aves (Birds of North

and Middle America, vol. I, pp. i, 2) Prof. Ridgway observes : —

"There are two essentially different kinds of ornithology,

systematic or scientific, and popular. The former deals with the

structure and classification of birds, their synonymies and

technical descriptions. The latter treats of their habits, songs,

nesting, and other facts pertaining to their life-histories.

Although apparently distinct from one another, these two

branches of ornithologj' are in reality closely related and to a

degree interdependent. The systematist who does not possess

an intimate knowledge of the habits of birds, their mode of

nidification, the character of their nests, eggs, and young, is

poorly equipped for the work he has in hand, while the popular

writer who is ignorant of scientific ornithology and who neglects

to keep in touch with its progress is placed at an equal

disadvantage — his writings may entertain, but are far more apt

to mislead, through erroneous statements, than educate. Popular

ornithology is the most entertaining, with its savor of the

wildwood, green fields, the riverside and seashore, bird songs,

and the many fascinating things connected with out-of-door

Nature. But systematic ornithology, being a component part of

biology — the science of life — is the more instructive and there-

fore more important. Each advance in this serious study reveals

just so much more of the hidden mysteries of creation, and adds

proportionately to the sum of human knowledge."



