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THE CONDOR 
VOL. VII 
glacial geology, and in physiography, is indispensable; he then must acquire by 
patient work in the closet the vast amount of detailed knowledge of species and 
subspecies, and by training in the field the necessary qualifications as collector and 
observer. When he has thus mastered his “technique” he will be prepared totake up 
various problems under proper guidance, and in course of time be able to take a 
leading part in advancing a branch of zoology which has always held a prominent 
and honorable place among the biological sciences. 
It is not necessary for me here to indicate the many problems which await so- 
lution. Let the young student of ornithology prepare himself under competent 
teachers, and if he amounts to anything, lie will soon be associated in the work, 
and guided toward the problems which present themselves. As a rule, the man 
of science does not go around hunting for problems, asking himself: “What shall I 
investigate next?” On the contrary, the problems grip him by the throat, and 
demand to be solved, and give him no rest until he tackles them and subdues 
them as best he can with the weapons he can command. 
I am afraid you wish me to give the young man more definite advice along 
specified lines. This I am unable to do, but it seems to me that if he reads the 
above, he may be able to formulate his own “do” and “don’t.” 1 have only been 
wanting to speak to the earnest student who desires to follow ornithology as a 
science , and a life work. My advice is not for the man or boy who seeks in bird 
study an agreeable pastime, or an interesting hobby. They need not my advise, 
and would not take it if given! Do not think that I am down on the amateur as 
such; on the contrary, I am not. He is, and has been, exceedingly useful. But it 
is the amateur who poses as a scientific ornithologist without having the true 
scientific instinct who is a nuisance. The amateur’s proper field is the gathering 
of facts, the professional’s is to apply them. While the former requires some train- 
ing in order that his observations may be of value, the latter requires the prepara- 
tion and training which only a life devoted exclusively to the scientific subject 
can give. And right here is the difference between the professional and amateur 
in science, in contradistinction to the meaning of the two terms in sport. 
In the latter, the criterion is whether the man performs a certain work for 
money, or not; in science it depends upon whether the scientific pursuit is the 
main activity of the man’s life, or only a side issue subordinate to other work and 
other duties. It is for the future professional ornithologist that I have written. 
Yours sincerely, 
[Signed] Leonhard Stejneger. 
Odiham Priory, Winchfield, England, Feb. 24, 1905. 
Dear Mr. Fisher: 
In reply to your questions I may say that there is still an enormous 
amount of good work to be done in Ornithology, especially in the branches of 
Anatomy and Pterylography, in which there are few workers at present. But I 
should not recommend any students to take it up solely with the idea that they 
could make a livelihood on it. They might be disappointed. But if they have a 
real love of birds let them pay special attention to these branches, as recommended 
in several of the prefaces to “The Ibis.” 
Yours very faithfully, 
P. L. Sc EATER. 
[Signed] 
