342 FEMALE INDIGO FINCH. 
almost indispensably requisite that the female, unaccountably 
neglected by Wilson, as he generally granted this distinction 
in similar, and often less important cases, should be figured in 
this work. Hardly any North American bird more absolutely 
stands in need of being thus illustrated than the beautiful 
finch which is now the subject of our consideration. It could 
scarcely be expected that the student should easily recognise 
the brilliant indigo bird of Wilson’s first volume in the humble 
garb in which it is represented in the annexed plate. But, 
however simple in its appearance, the plumage of the female 
is far more interesting and important than that of the male, 
as it belongs equally to the young, and to the adult male after 
the autumnal moult, and previous to the change which 
ensues in the spring,—a large proportion of the life of the 
bird. 
The importance of a knowledge of these changes will also 
be duly estimated on recurring to the copious synonymy at 
the head of our article, by which it will be seen that several 
nominal species have been made by naturalists who chanced 
to describe this bird during its transitions from one state to 
another. Errors of this kind too frequently disfigure the fair 
pages of zoology, owing to the ridiculous ambition of those 
pseudo-naturalists, who, without taking the trouble to make 
investigations, for which, indeed, they are perhaps incompetent, 
glory in proclaiming a new species established on a single in- 
dividual, and merely on account of a spot, or some such trifling 
particular! The leading systematists who have enlarged the 
boundaries of our science have too readily admitted such 
species, partly compelled to it perhaps by the deficiency of 
settled principles. But the more extensive and accurate 
knowledge which ornithologists have acquired within a few 
years relative to the changes that birds undergo will render 
them more cautious, in proportion as the scientific world will 
be less disposed to excuse them for errors arising from this 
source. Linné may be profitably resorted to as a model of 
accuracy in this respect, his profound sagacity leading him im 
