92 
FEMALE INDIGO FINCH. 
by Wilson, as he generally granted this distinction in similar, 
and often in less important cases, should be figured in this work. 
Hardly any North American bird more absolutely stands in need 
of being thus illustrated than the beautiful Finch which is now 
the subject of our consideration. It could scarcely be expected 
that the student should easily recognise the brilliant Indigo bird 
of Wilson’s first volume, in the humble garb in which it is 
represented in the annexed plate. But however simple in its 
appearance, the plumage of the female is far more interesting 
and important than that of the male, as it belongs equally to 
the young, and to the adult male after the autumnal moult, and 
previous to the change which ensues in the spring; a large 
proportion of the life of the bird. 
The importance of a knowledge of these changes will also be 
duly estimated on recurring to the copious synonymy at the head 
of our article, by which it will be seen, that several nominal 
species have been made by naturalists who chanced to describe 
this bird during its transitions from one state to another. Errors 
of this kind too frequently disfigure the fair pages of zoology, 
owing to the ridiculous ambition of those pseudo-naturalists, who 
without taking the trouble to make investigations, for which 
indeed they are perhaps incompetent, glory in proclaiming a new 
species established on a single individual, and merely on account 
of a spot, or some such trifling particular! The leading system- 
atists who have enlarged the boundaries of our science have too 
readily admitted such species, partly compelled to it perhaps by 
the deficiency of settled principles. But the more extensive and 
accurate knowledge which ornithologists have acquired within a 
few years relative to the changes that birds undergo, will render 
them more cautious, in proportion as the scientific world will be 
less disposed to excuse them for errors arising from this source. 
Linne may be profitably resorted to as a model of accuracy in 
