Glimpses of Indian Birds

BY DOUGLAS DEWAR
LONDON: JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD NEW YORK: JOHN LANE COMPANY TORONTO: BELL & COCKBURN MCMXIII
WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD. PRINTERS, PLYMOUTH
I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
A HUNTER OF BIG GAME AND A NATURALIST WHO, HAVING BROUGHT COMMON-SENSE TO BEAR ON THE PROBLEMS OF NATURAL HISTORY DECLINES TO BE DICTATED TO BY THOSE WHO HAVE CONSTITUTED THEMSELVES ZOOLOGICAL AUTHORITIES
In the brief sketches that follow I find occasion repeatedly to attack the prevalent theories of protective colouration, because it is impossible for the naturalist who uses his eyes to accept these theories.
Most of these hypotheses were advanced by field naturalists, but they have since been elaborated by cabinet zoologists and have become a creed. Now, Huxley remarked with truth, “Science commits suicide when it adopts a creed.” With equal truth he asserted, “‘Authorities,’ ‘disciples,’ and ‘schools’ are the curse of science and do more to interfere with the work of the scientific spirit than all its enemies.”
In England zoology is at present in the hands of ‘schools’ and ‘authorities’ of the kind to which Huxley objected.
The result is that where, in some of my previous books, I have exposed the shallowness of the prevalent theories, I have been taken to task by certain reviewers who are disciples of those ‘authorities.’ These gentlemen term my criticisms superficial, but they have made no attempt to show in what way my criticisms are superficial. There is a good reason for this. It is that these journalists know well that any attempts to rebut my statements will lead to a controversy in which they cannot but be worsted because the facts are against them.
If what I say is incorrect my reviewers now have an excellent opportunity to demonstrate this.
Lest these have recourse to the unfailing resort of the defeated Darwinian or Wallaceian—the argument of ignorance, lest they say that it is only owing to their insufficient knowledge of Indian birds that they cannot answer me, let me assert that what I say of Indian birds is equally true of British birds.