S4 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XIII 
stable nomenclature, except mostly those of sentiment ? Suppose some early writer 
did call the Eastern Bluebird Sia/ia sialis in Trego’s Geography in 1843 or some 
other obscure book ? If he did not care enough about publishing it in the proper 
channels why should we take the trouble to resuscitate a name that now lies 
buried ? And as a fact these early workers were in the true sense seldom discov- 
erers of many of the species they named, for many of these birds were knowui by 
name to the Indians for untold centuries perhaps, before the white man came. 
And that the former were often close observers of bird life can be seen by perusal 
of those unique articles in the earlier volumes of The Osprey by Chief Pokagon of 
the Pottawattomies: “Ke-gon Pe-nay-sey and Win-ge-zee, ”*• “Au-mon Re-nay- 
•sshen,”^- and “O-jaw-aw-ne” There is something pathetic in the writings of 
this old Indian chief, almost the last of a vanishing race, telling, and with a rare 
command of language, of youthful journeys from his wigwam through the un- 
broken wilderness to study the birds. 
Ridgway has said that “the classification of birds, their synonymies * * * * 
is scientific.” This is no doubt true, but to me the continual wrangling and wrest- 
ling over priority seems a rather mild form of it, and I think it is apparent that no 
matter what arguments are offered in favor of the present system, that it is detri- 
mental to the advancement of ornithology, and proof lies in the fact that even some 
of the museums, wearied by the endless change of names have adopted the vernacu- 
lar in labeling skins. I have little doubt that a post card ballot of active ornitho- 
logists would show an overwhelming majority in favor of nonienclatural stability. 
Ihiscientific ornitholog3^ such as those inexact, careless or exaggerated articles 
which frequently appear in current magazines or newspapers, merits but a passing 
notice. Most of these articles are soon forgotten, as they deserve to be. Yet even 
though they misinform, as they serve to interest the general public in bird study 
they are to some extent beneficial. The most glaring collection of mis-statements 
I ever read was published in the San Francisco Qi//, Februarv 3, 1893, entitled 
“The Singing Birds of California. ” Illustrations from Wood’s Natural History 
w’ere used in connection, and our state credited with such surprising species as the 
\'ervain Hummingbird, Chaffinch, Yellow Hammer,'* etc. The text is on a par 
with the illustrations and a very short excerpt will suffice: “The orchardist does 
declare w^ar against the yellow-hammer which belongs to the family of buntings and 
is cousin to the ortolan. He feeds on almonds when they are \-oung and milky 
and they make the bird very toothsome picking for the epicure. He has a cry 
rather than a song which is variouslv translated. ” Perhaps in this latter respect 
there will be found considerable resemblance between the cry mentioned and the 
bird of the excerpt itself. 
The opinion seems prevalent that the combination of a good writer and a good 
ornithologist is rare, and that the polish literature gives an article on ornithology 
is detrimental to its interests. With those who hold such views I beg to differ. If 
one refers to the work of almost any of our foremost ornithologists it will be found, 
I think, that while their style is not highly figurative, for the occasion seldom de- 
mands it, it is almost always fluent, forceful and clear. In fact the true scientist, 
is, I think, one who has mastered the intricate details of his work and is able to 
tell of them. If he lacks the flow of words to depict his discoveries or theories in 
accurate, clear and convincing language how can w'e much believe in his accom- 
1. The White-headed Eagle and the Ospre.v, Vol, I. p. 51. 
2. The Chimney Swift, Vol. I, p. 120. ' 
.1. The Bluebird, Vol. II, p. 102. 
4 Not Colaptes cafer coUaris-, the bird in the ent is evidently Emberiza n'trineUa. 
