106 
JOUENAL OP MAMMALOGY 
THE “general notes” COLUMN 
To the Editor of the Journal: 
Many members of the American Society of Mammalogists have signified their 
interest in the work of the Committee on Life-Histories, while those professing 
an interest in the work of the other committees are so far few in number. The 
reasons for this are perfectly obvious. The study of specimens, bones, and books 
is interesting; but the study of the living animal is even more interesting. It is 
perhaps not strange that because it is possible for persons without special train- 
ing to acquire an interest in socalled popular natural history and because super- 
ficial and inaccurate observations have sometimes become current there has 
arisen in some quarters a prejudice against popular science. 
Robert Ridgway once wrote “There are two essentially different kinds of 
ornithology: systematic or scientific, and 'popular. The former deals with the 
structure and classification of birds, their synonymies and technical descriptions. 
The latter treats of their habits, songs, nesting, and other facts pertaining to 
their life-histories” (The Birds of North and Middle America, Bull. 50, U. S. 
Nat. Mus., Part 1, 1901, p. 1). To the mind of the writer this distinction is a 
mistaken one. Is not the study of habits exactly as scientific as the study of 
structure? Structure acquires significance only as some habit is associated with 
it. It is, moreover, still an open question whether structure arose before habit, 
or habit before structure. Is not the distinction rather between the true 
and accurate and the false and inaccurate, whether one studies structure or 
habits, than between the scientific and popular? There is nothing inherently 
scientific about studies of specimens, bones, and books; nor anything inherently 
unscientific in studies of habits and life-histories. The scientific method can 
be applied as readily to the one as to the other. 
I was impressed with your statement in the last number of this Journal that 
“Papers of general interest on life-histories, distribution, and habits are partic- 
ularly needed, in order that the Journal may not be overbalanced with purely 
technical matter.” With this proposition it is believed all readers of the Journal 
will be in agreement. 
A tendency far too common among observers of wild life is to minimize the 
importance of their studies of habits. The dearth of information concerning 
the life-histories of some of our commonest mammals is amazing. It is conse- 
quently urged that papers and general notes in this province be submitted for 
publication. In particular the column of General Notes should become one of 
the most popular and best supported departments of the Journal. 
It should be remembered that any sincere student with an enthusiasm for 
closer acquaintance with wild life can well become active in this field. “No 
human being and no book, but nature herself, is the supreme authority in natural 
history. The beginner may make as important an observation as the veteran 
investigator. The efforts of all are needed if our fund of information is in any 
sense to be complete” (Dept. Circular 50, U. S. Dept, of Agriculture, p. 4). 
Walter P. Taylor. 
