The California Linnet 



only to review the quasi-personal qualities of these contrasted birds, to 

 make instant choice. If we must have satellites, by all means let us have 

 Native Sons. The Linnet is our best bulwark against the Menace. 



Not the least interesting aspect 

 of bird study is what we might call 

 comparative genology. By this we 

 mean a study of the vital characters 

 which distinguish species, a study of 

 geno-dynamic values, as distinguish- 

 ed from studies of structural fea- 

 tures, habits, psychology, etc. A 

 geno-dynamic appraisal, to be of any 

 value, must involve a pretty thor- 

 ough knowledge of the present status 

 of a given species, its distribution, its 

 associations, its reactions with other 

 species, its adaptation to changing 

 environment. It presupposes a deep 

 knowledge of taxonomic relation- 

 ships and of phylogeny — in short, the 

 racial history of the bird. Its task, 

 as I conceive it, is to estimate the 

 relative value of a species, and to 

 express that value in terms of energy 

 and achievement, noting in each case 

 direction of development, rate of de- 

 velopmental progress, degree of suc- 

 cess or failure, mobility, adaptabil- 

 ity, and the like. 



Those whose interest has sur- 

 vived the preceding paragraph will 



be prepared for a geno-dynamic appraisal of the House Finch ; but in 

 expressing it we will use common terms, instead of seeking to evolve or 

 further define a special vocabulary, such as every budding science requires. 



The species Carpodacus mexicanus is of northern extraction, as 

 evinced by its similarity to certain Asiatic forms. It was the first of its 

 genus to flee southward before the advancing ice of the Glacial Epoch ; 

 and upon the retreat of the ice, the species quickly accommodated itself 

 to the diverse and rapidly changing conditions of its new home, viz., the 

 highlands of western Mexico and the lower levels of the southwestern 

 states, instead of following the glacial retreat more closely, as did C. cas- 

 sini and C. purpureas. We may affirm that the species mexicanus accom- 

 ^/c? 



Taken in Ventura County 



Photo by D. 



Dickey 



THE GARDENER'S COTTAGE 



NEST AND EGGS OF CALIFORNIA LINNET 



