Review of Dr. Finsch’s e Die Papageien 3 299 
(t. c. p. 28) Mr. Hume has this passage, “ I should ill fulfil my 
duty as editor of the sole Indian ornithological journal, if I 
did not rebuke, sans faqons, his slighting treatment of the 
men to whom every Indian ornithologist owes so much. - ” 
As an old Indian field ornithologist, as one of Hr. Jer don’s 
oldest friends, one in whom his memory lingers the most 
cherished of reminiscences, I protest against Mr. Hume 5 s ar¬ 
rogating to himself the right to speak in the name of Indian 
ornithologists without better claim than the irresponsible edi¬ 
torship of a recent Indian ornithological periodical, or to 
exalt himself to the post of protector of Jerdon’s, Blyth’s, or 
any other Indian naturalist’s reputation. The scientific works 
and deeds of those men are the common property of the sci¬ 
entific world, and not of a narrow Calcutta clique; and their 
memories are far safer from reproach under the guardianship of 
that great and increasing body of gifted, highly trained, and 
generous men, than if left to the patronizing care of a carping, 
indiscriminating, illiterate, and noxious advocacy. Mr. 
Hume is at liberty to “ rebuke 33 whomsoever he pleases. His 
blame or his praise, at least his blame, will prove harmless. 
But Mr. Hume cannot evade the responsibilities of a reviewer. 
He cannot plead ignorance; for as a reviewer he is bound to 
bring to his task a reasonable amount of knowledge. Mr. 
Hume has most mercilessly attacked the scientific reputa¬ 
tion of Hr. Finsch. I care not for the faint praise accorded 
to his minor merits. A reputation built up by many years of 
devoted and honourable labour in the cause of zoological 
science. A reputation as dear to him as our own is to any 
one of us, perhaps more so, perhaps his all. The coarse jokes 
or vulgar personalities, standing alone, might have passed un¬ 
noticed; for a coarse and vulgar style is some men’s mis¬ 
fortune, and though exciting in supersensitive temperaments 
sensations of nausea, is submitted to by the philosophic mind 
with a shrug of the shoulder or a smile of resignation. But 
the unscrupulous reviewer of the hard conscientious work of 
a brother naturalist risks incurring that deserved odium 
which, by the common voice, attaches to the judgments of an 
unjust judge. 
