r 
PROCELLAUnFOEMES. 
generally. It might be used in connection with a few species^ but even 
then it would be unwise, as the movements are local as far as we know 
at present. 
Under Variation he regards dichromatism as a dominant condition 
in many Petrels, but his interpretation of dichromatism is perplexing, 
writing : “ in the Giant Eulmar, Fulmar, Short-footed Petrel, Neglected 
Petrel, and Wedge-tailed Shearwater the bicoloration has been proven 
to be dichromatic,” adding: “the Wedge-tailed Shearwater appears to be 
represented only by the dark phase on the Kermadec Islands. He might 
have added also — “ East and West Austraha, Lord Howe and Norfolk 
Islands,” as no light phase is known from any of these localities. 
The section comprising Classification and Nomenclature begins : — 
''Species. Bird species are realities, not concepts, and their identification 
is not in any way dependent upon a knowledge of their distribution. . . 
Subspecies. In theory, subspecies are incipient species ; in fact, subspecies 
are attempts to forecast the future of geographic variation, which no one 
can foresee. ... In the present paper . . . the subspecies theory 
being discarded as a theory that has outhved its usefulness.” Again : 
“I heartily agree .... that the genealogy of birds is a subject to be 
considered apart from bird classification.” 
With the above in view, many of the idiosyncrasies apparent in the 
paper become negligible, as no present day systematist with any pretence 
to accuracy or authority would accept the dogmatism without much 
reservation. I will deal more fully with some of the peculiar results 
Loomis achieves through his acceptance of these views. 
■A 
419 
