PRACTICAL WORK TO BE DONE Q47 
of our birds without killing one; and any person who can at 
sight recognize and claim acquaintance with that number of 
bird species may justly claim to be well informed on our 
birds. Because birds are more common than quadrupeds, 
bird-books are also more common, and now the most of them 
are beautifully illustrated. The road to ornithology is now 
strewn with flowers, and the rough places have been made 
smooth. , 
The time was when the analysis and classification of our 
American birds were important work, because our bird fauna 
was only partially discovered and written up. In their days, 
Audubon, Wilson, Baird and Coues did grand work, because 
so many birds were strange, and needed introducing. The 
time was when analyzing, naming and working up geo- 
graphical distribution were desirable and necessary. But in 
North America that period has gone by! There is no longer any 
real need for new technical books on the birds of this conti- 
nent north of Mexico. The describing and re-describing, the 
naming, re-naming and tre-naming of microscopic varieties, 
has been done enough, and'in places overdone. The total 
sum of bird facts available regarding the birds of North 
America is already enormous. It is time to digest those 
facts and see what they mean. 
Practica Work To BE Donre.—Henceforth, these things 
should be done by all bird-lovers for our American birds: 
1. Join actively in protecting the few birds that remain, 
and help to save them from complete extermination. 
2. Aid in teaching the millions how to know and enjoy 
the beautiful and useful birds without destroying them. 
