The revised arrangement of the Alciformes. Case XXI, Drawer 6, Annex 

 jZEthiidae Cepphida? Synthliboramphids 



Fraterculids Alcids 



overridden by homoplasy in case of the birds themselves, stand out with indelible 

 clearness in the case of the eggs. This evidence is fairly startling. There are five 

 or six natural groups of the Alciformes, and the grouping of the eggs is so natural, 

 that if a six-year-old child were set the task of grouping the eggs according to his 

 own fancy, he would probably define these five or six natural groupings. The only 

 hesitation which he would be likely to feel, would be as to whether he should put 

 the definitely greenish blue egg of the Dovekie, (Alle alle) with the pure white, or 

 bluish white, eggs of the Auklets proper, and this same hesitation we confess. Or, 

 again, disregarding the shape, the child might be tempted to place the rather highly 

 colored ellipse of the Kittlitz Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) with the gaudy 

 Murres' eggs, instead of leaving it with its fellow Brachyramphi. 



The evidence is, however, so patent to the eye, that it never occurs to anyone 

 who has seen the two drawers in the M. C. O. collections, to question it. But not 

 alone because the illustrations presented herewith are necessarily less satisfactory 

 than immediate vision, but because this rule of common sense is unfamiliar or unwel- 

 come to the taxonomist steeped in his own anatomical traditions, we must assert 

 that this rearranged grouping does not conflict with known anatomical evidence — 

 it clears it up and confirms it rather; and, more fundamentally, we must urge that 

 oological evidence is good evidence. Assuming the first contention, let us take the 

 field of our specialty with greater care. 



It will not be possible within the assigned limits of this paper to argue and 

 prove the leading propositions of oological science. Like any other scientific induc- 

 tions, the conclusions of comparative oology are based upon experience. These 

 may be illustrated by example, but the induction itself is a laborious process. It 

 will be sufficient for our present purpose to advance the propositions in order that 

 we may test them out in the case under consideration. 



The egg, being itself a product of evolution, is, insofar as the simplicity of its structure 

 allows, a perfect epitome of evolutionary progress, and a perfect index of phylogenetic 

 relationship. 



It follows from the foregoing, that no characteristic of the egg, whether size, shape, 

 texture, ground color, or pigmentation, is without phylogenetic significance. 



Page nine 



