96 
THE CONDOR 
| Voi,. VII 
need — at least from the standpoint of ornithologists living in the eastern states 
— is that of more exact and definite published descriptions of the songs and other 
vocal notes of many of the birds which inhabit the Rocky Mountains, the Sierras, 
and even the coast region of California. This is a difficult matter to deal with 
effectively. It should be undertaken only by those who have a gift for render- 
ing or describing bird sounds and who are also familiar with the songs of eastern 
birds, with which comparisons should be made whenever possible. 
There are of course many special problems under this head which require 
further elucidation, such as the nesting of the Carolina parrot and the precise 
character of interrelationship of the eastern warblers, Helminthophila pinns , H. 
clirysoptera , II. leucobronchialis and //. lawrencei . 
(3.) For the young ornithologist of limited means and sedentary habits, no 
more fitting and useful task can be suggested than the careful and prolonged 
study of the birds found in the immediate neighborhood of his home. He should 
begin by making a collection of the birds and their nests and eggs, limiting him- 
self strictly to species taken within a definite and not too extensive area 
such as that of a township, or at most, a county. Local collections of this kind 
are of great and permanent value. When there is one for every county of every 
state in the Union the distribution of the birds of the United States can be plotted 
with reasonable accuracy. If the general region where our local collector lives 
has been already carefully worked, he should be content to take only a few speci- 
mens of each species; but if it has not been thus investigated, he will do well to 
collect his birds in series. 
(4.) Although I sympathize strongly with the work of the Audubon Societies 
I do not think that the time has arrived when we can dispense with the killing 
of birds for scientific purposes. I also hold strongly to the conviction that few if 
any men can become thoroughly efficient and trustworthy ornithologists unless 
they have first had extensive field experience as collectors of birds and eggs. This 
I consider essential to success, no matter what department of ornithology the 
young student may finally decide to investigate. Of course he may derive much 
pleasure and profit from merely watching living birds, and he may also make field 
observations which, if published, will be generally accepted as reliable and of 
value provided he avoid the mistake — all too common among young men of the 
present day — of attempting to positively identify by sight alone birds which no one 
save an expert should venture to name without the aid of a gun. But should he 
try to deal with any really broad and difficult problems he will be likely sooner or 
later to find himself seriously handicapped unless he has had previous field ex- 
perience which has included the killing and dissection of a considerable number 
and variety of birds. 
To this I would add, however, that no young man is justified in thus taking 
bird life unless he is reasonably sure that his interest in ornithology is likely to be 
lasting, and that his ability to devote his life to its pursuit is also assured. If he 
wishes merely to divert himself by the study of birds, or to make their study simply 
an excuse for leading an out-of-door life, the opera glass, not the gun, is the im- 
plement best suited to his use. 
Yours sincerely, 
William Brewster. 
[vSigned] 
