FOREST AND STREAM. 



477 



la few cases would he have more than one apCcinieh 

 of a species. Cuvier was supplied by travelers and residents 

 in 1 he United States. Arid about the same time came Les-. 

 ueur, Rafinesque, Dr. Mitchill, Audubon and Wilson collecting 

 and naming, when the mink, the common crow, the leather- 

 back turtle and the hrook trout were new to science. From 

 Linnaeus to the middle of this century a very large number of 

 species, or supposed species, were given names. Now, in or- 

 der that those names should stand, several things were requi- 

 site pertaining to the • animal— its genus, species or variety. 

 The name which comes first— the generic name— under which 

 certain species, having structural characters in common, are 

 collected into a group, must have received its final limitation. 

 All the forms related to it are to be studied and the decision 

 nude that all the members of the group are sufficiently homo- 

 geneous and related in their character to be retained together 

 under the name of the genus ; if not, it must be divided into 

 as many groups as seem natural to the judgment of the stu- 

 dent, and new generic names established. The species are re- 

 organized under their respective genera ; the old name is left 

 attached to one or more, as the case may be, but the rest drop 

 it, and the- new names precede then- specific titles. 



Next, a prolific cause for change is the identity of species. 

 This involves the apprehension of the term species, which 

 presents itself to the mind of each naturalist, and of which 

 there is no acknowledged universal definition. It is well es- 

 tablished that different geographical regions possess forms 

 varying only slightly from similar forms in other regions, but 

 so apparent that they are readily distinguished. The practice 

 with some naturalists is to regard these forms, if the charac- 

 ters are constant— that is, found to exist distinctly in all the 

 specimens in each group respectively— to constitute their dif- 

 ferent species. But, if the extreme types are found in a 

 series of specimens, however considerable, to imperceptibly 

 grade into each other, they are then termed races or varieties. 

 Now, it has been the case that two strongly characterized 

 forms have been found, from separate localities, and, without 

 hesitation, made separate species. In the course of time 

 specimens from intervening regions are collected, and, finally, 

 a chain of gradation is established, and, of course, the later 

 established species loses its distinguishing name and is known 

 under the- common term applied to all. 



Again, all this establishing of species depends for its accu- 

 racy and permanency upon the very variable amount of ability 

 and judgment in the different naturalists. A careless, or 

 credulous, or over-sanguine, or easily persuaded man, may 

 make many species where there is little foundation for one, as 

 in the case of Dumeril in the sturgeons and in the gar-pikes. 

 The conscientious worker, in later studies of the same group, 

 must reduce the names to the position of mere synonyms of 

 the prior name applied to the species. 



This suggestion of priority now brings the other principal 

 cause for changes, research through the literature ; the study 

 of all the previous authors who have written up the species ; 

 the careful sifting of their descriptions, to determine what spe- 

 cies they have had in hand, and to which they have applied 

 the name ; and then, after conclusions are made, to affix the 

 name having priority of date, and to reduce all others, no 

 matter how extensively used, to the character of synonyms. 



A late stvident of the Salmonkfre thought he saw the neces- 

 sity staring him in the face of throwing aside the accepted 

 name of the brook-trout, so long used and liked, and familiar 

 in the pages of American authors on field sports. Salmo fon- 

 tinalis, has it not a pleasant sound ? You can scan it like a 

 line of Virgil. This vandal proposed to give us Salmo omiseo- 

 maycus in its place, because a Dutchman named Walbaurn— 

 and a very poor naturalist he was— described a small Salmo 

 with spots under this name in' 1792. He decided in the end 

 that Walbaum's fish was a smolt, the young of Salmo salar. 



In the plants of North America and Europe this changing of 

 scientific names seems to have neaily reached its limit. In the 

 classes of vertebrates there will still be many changes, 

 as varieties, species and genera become better understood, and 

 the priority and correct application of the older authors' 

 names become known. 



You now see that it marks the progress of science, and you 

 will hereafter have the satisfaction, as you see these "house- 

 hold words" disappear, of knowing that science is advancing. 



Rune. 



THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION. 



The steps taken by the National Eifie Association to in- 

 crease the representation given to the Army, to State military 

 associations and to affiliating clubs, instead of being appre- 

 ciated as a concession, appears to have opened the way to 

 fresh assaults. It would be difficult to find any logical reason 

 for the course. Why the gentlemen, who for the last six 

 years have so unsparingly devoted their time and money to 

 create a public interest in rifle shooting, should all at once be 

 discovered to have lost all right to continue to represent Ameri- 

 can riflemen is a mystery. It is not that they have failed in 

 their efforts, because all concede that it is through their exer- 

 tions that American riflemen and American rifles now lead the 

 world. It is not from any failure upon their part to support 

 the honor of our country, for our visitors have united in 

 praising to the echo the fairness and hospitality with which 

 they have treated and entertained them. 



The only reason to be gathered from the published criti- 

 cisms is that they have not seen fit to implicitly follow cer- 

 tain newspaper suggestions, and tinned over all then- powers 

 lo a convention composed of delegates from the different rifle 



clubs in the United States , or acquiesced in a scheme for the 

 formation of a body, to be composed of delegates from each 

 State, with the General of the Army at its head, having a 

 grand central range at Louisville or Cincinnati, at which all 

 international or inter-State matches should be shot, to the ex- 

 clusion of Creedmoor. 



It may perhaps be that the six-years' practical experience of 

 the present niuuagers of the National Rifle Association has 

 failed to give them that knowledge of rifle matters which is 

 possessed by their newspaper critics. It would also perhaps be 

 asking too much to expect that any gratitude or acknowl- 

 edgement of their services should be expressed by those pro- 

 fessing to be champions of rifle practice for their unselfish 

 exertions to advance that cause. Yet it might be expected, in 

 the interest of gentlemanly and sportsmanlike feeling, that 

 their conduct might be discussed without referring to them as 

 a "ring" or a "close corporation." That this has not been 

 done is however but another instance of the ingratitude of re- 

 publics. 



After a careful examination of the plans proposed, it is clear 

 that the gentlemen of the National Rifle Association have 

 given another instance of their common sense in declining to 

 adopt them. 



The idea of the new association, headed by Gen. Sherman, 

 with directors from each State, is magnificent— on paper. 

 Considered practically, it is a humbug. As the Chicago 

 Fuid rightly said, " We are a nation of plain business men, 

 and should cut out our national associations of plain, practi- 

 cal, business-like stuff." To manage a rifle association, to 

 operate a range and to carry an international rifle match to a 

 successful conclusion, is a business. It requires from those 

 undertaking it thorough familiarity with many details, only 

 derived from practical experience and constant, unremitting 

 attention for several months. It needs a large corps of 

 trained markers, scorers and clerks, and large and expensive 

 plant, none of which can be improvised ; and, above all, it re- 

 quires a great deal of money. 



During the arrangements for all the international matches, 

 the officers of the N. R. A., though prominent business men, 

 met weekly for months to perfect them, while the sub-com- 

 mittees were at work all the time. In fact, many of the offi- 

 cers gave up their usual vacations to attend to their duties. 

 Even with this spirit of self-sacrifice the work was greatly in- 

 terfered with from the difficulty of getting a quorum together 

 on occasions of emergency. The expenses of receiving and en- 

 tertaining the foreign riflemen of 1876 were over $8,000, and 

 the association was left $2,000 in debt. The expenses of the 

 last match were about $5,000. The total receipts and dis- 

 bursements of the National Rifle Association during 1877 were 

 $3(3,000, and yet it was only by the most judicious manage- 

 ment they squeezed through the year with a balance of $26. 

 This, of course, does not include the expenses of the private 

 hospitality extended to the visiting teams by the directors and 

 members, individually, which were very great. 



That their duties would not he, could not be, performed, by 

 such an impractical body as is contemplated in the proposed 

 scheme is too self-evident to bear contradiction. It would 

 only be by a miracle that they would begot together, and they 

 never could be kept together long enough to accomplish any- 

 thing. 



The idea of a central range is no less absurd. Where is the 

 money going to come from to erect it, and how is it to be sup- 

 ported? Outside of Creedmoor there is no range in the 

 country fit to be used for such a contest as the Centennial 

 or the Spirit of ilw Times Matches. To procure and fit up a 

 new one near any large city would cost from $10,000 up- 

 ward. There has been over $50,000 spent on Creedmoor, 

 while the Rochester range cost $8,000, and that at Buffalo 

 $15,000. Outside of the State of New York, with the ex- 

 ception perhaps of California, is there a range in the United 

 States where the prizes offered at any meeting exceeded 

 $1,000 in value, or where there have been as many as fifty 

 entries in any one match ? It may be said that Wimbledon is 

 only a temporary range, but that argument does not apply. 

 ■While that range is not shot over all the time, it is not used 

 for any other purpose. The butts and targets remain, and 

 all that is required at each meeting is to get things into 

 working order. To do this the British N. R. A. have a 

 trained staff of paid officials and the aid of all the regular troops 

 they need. Above all they have plenty of money, their sur- 

 plus being nearly $100,000. 



Does any body imagine that in these hard times the neces- 

 sary funds can be raised to erect a range simply for inter- 

 national matches, or the selection of a team ? If it could, 

 how would it be supported ? If those in favor of this plan 

 will refer to the report of Col. Wingate, the General Inspect- 

 or of Rifla Practice, of New York, they will see the experi- 

 ence of twenty ranges of that State summarized in the state- 

 ment " that it is to military shooting that a range must look 

 for its support." And what is the experience of New York 

 will be the case elsewhere. It requires a large number of 

 competitors to support a range, and these can only be ob- 

 tained from the military. This question of military shooting 

 is the vital point in the whole controversy. We must recog- 

 nise that the National Rifle Association is founded to encour- 

 age that lund of shooting. Long range and other descrip- 

 tions of rifle practice are undoubtedly valuable as adjuncts to 

 aid and develop public interest — but they are merely adjuncts. 

 Whatever aid Congress may extend toward rifle practice 

 will only be granted so far as its military features are con- 

 cerned, and the same will be the case in the different States. 



Any range, therefore, which is to he national, which is to 



occupy toward the National Guard of the Union the position 

 which Wimbledon occupies to the British Volunteers, must 

 be located where it will be most accessible to the greatest 

 number of the National Guard, or where the prizes are more 

 attractive than are offered elsewhere. The only States where 

 National Guards»know anything about shooting, at the pres- 

 ent time, are New York, California and Connecticut. The 

 first has 20,000 men Who are regularly trained and who re- 

 sort to Creedmoor as competitors, and the riflemen of Con- 

 neetic ut come with them. No association can afford to 

 spend more for prizes than comes back to them in entries, ex- 

 cept such as are donations. But with this support the N. R. 

 A. are enabled to offer a prize list which no other range not 

 having a similar number of competitors can afford. The 

 number of competitors in turn produce the best shots and 

 make the honors of victory greater. It may therefore be as- 

 sumed that, as British riflemen from Australia, Canada, Ire- 

 land and Scotland congregate to Wimbledon to compete 

 against each other, American riflemen will inevitably resort to 

 Creedmoor ; and any attempt to build up a rival range or a ri- 

 val association will be impracticable, until, at least, some 

 State shall organize a larger force of riflemen than are to be 

 found in New York and the neighboring States to serve as 

 a foundation for such an opposition. 



We must confess our inability to see why the action of the 

 N. R. A. has not been generous in the extreme in regard to 

 affiliating clubs, and riflemen in general. The $25 affiliation 

 fee just pays for the medal presented affiliating clubs, the 

 printing of their scores in the annual report and the publi- 

 cations furnished them, and the privilege to use the range is 

 given, without compensation, to all their members. The only 

 reason why the amendment making their Presidents life 

 members was rejected was a dispute as to its language. This 

 is now being rectified, and will shortly be passed. This, 

 -however, was not necessary. If an affiliating club or any 

 rifleman desires a voice in the affairs of the N R. A. they 

 can have it. Any club can make every one of their members 

 life members of the N. R. A. by simply paying $25 each. As 

 the highest number of votes cast for any director at the re- 

 cent meeting was but fifty-six, it will be seen that ten clubs 

 having six live members each could elect whom they pleased. 

 Surely it cannot be expected that they are to control the 

 association without contributing in any way to its main- 

 tenance, or that they are to have more privileges than the 

 regular life members, which would be the case if they did not 

 make this payment. If it be too much trouble to go to New 

 York to attend the annual election, would it not be just as 

 much trouble to attend a convention? In increasing the 

 number of honorary directors the N. R. A. have given a voice 

 and vote to the army and to each State. They have also pro- 

 vided for the election of those whose services in the cause of 

 rifle practice may entitle them to this distinction. It is said 

 that this amounts to nothing, because these honorary directors 

 will not attend. If they follow the example of the critics 

 who have published the adverse views now under con- 

 sideration they undoubtedly will not, because these gentle- 

 men, though both honorary^ directors, never attended a single 

 meeting at which the proposed amendments were discussed 

 or offered a single suggestion upon the subject. It is to be 

 hoped, however, that they will pursue a' different course. 



The adyocat.es of a convention are scarcely more practical 

 in their ideas than those of the " Grand Central " Association, 

 A convention is cumbersome and unmanageable. Moreover 

 it would be a failure. Such a convention was called by the 

 N. R. A. on Feb. 1, 1876, to be held during the spring meet- 

 ing in May, and was only attended by the representatives of a 

 few local clubs, who were picked up on the field. By the 

 terms of affiliation another was to be held at the spring meet- 

 ing of 1877, and but a single delegate appeared, and it was 

 postponod till the fall meeting with the same results. This 

 is only what might be expected and what would certainly 

 result if another should be called. The interest in rifle prac- 

 tice is not sufficiently great to induce any one to go very far 

 out of his way to attend a meeting of this description, and it 

 is extremely doubtful if a single one of the clubs whose 

 officers have written in favor of such a meeting would send a 

 delegate 500 miles to attend it if it should be called. This is 

 shown by the history of the Sportsman's Association and 

 similar organizations. 



When the rifle movement attains sufficient strength to inl 

 duce the present scattering and disunited clubs to establish a 

 solid organization in the various States, then such a project 

 will be practical. The fact that there is no such an organiza- 

 tion in a single State outside of New York shows that the 

 attempt to constitute a national convention is premature. 

 The Northwestern Rifle Association is a striking example of 

 this. It was started some two years since, with the intention 

 of bringing together the riflemen of Chicago and the North- 

 west. How many meetings has it had, and with what 

 success ? Let us look the matter fairly in the face. Sub- 

 stantially all the correspondence that has been published is 

 from the various long-range rifle clubs scattered through the 

 country. Is there a single one of them that has fifty active 

 members ? We know of none. Look over the reports of the 

 various club matches published in our files. Do they average 

 over a dozen competitors? Even at Creedmoor, with the 

 stimulus arising from the great International Match, with 

 the galaxy of riflemen attending the inter-State matches, and 

 the fall meeting of the N. R. A., the magnificent prize so 

 generously offered by the Spirit of the Times, and aggregating 

 $1,500 in cash, attracted but seventy-eight competitors, and 

 these included the foreign teams. For the Wimbledon Cup 



