“The purpose of the present ‘Check List’ is thus distinctly seen to be two-fold: First, to present a complete list of the birds now known to inhabit North America, north of Mexico, and including Greenland, to classify them systematically, and to name them conformably with current rules of nomenclature; these being ornithological matters of science. Secondly, to take each word occurring in such technical usage, explain its derivation, significance, and application, spell it correctly, and indicate its pronunciation with the usual diacritical marks; these being purely philological matters, affecting not the scientific status of any bird, but the classical questions involved in its name” (pp. 3, 4).
The analysis of the two editions shows that of the 120 additions to the old list the large majority are bona fide species, and actual acquisitions to the North American list, being birds discovered since 1873 in Texas, Arizona, and Alaska, together with several long known to inhabit Greenland, which had never been formally included in the “North American” list at the time Dr. Coues’s first Check List was issued, though the Greenland Fauna, even then, was generally claimed and conceded to be North American. Beside these, the increment is represented by species or varieties named as new to science since 1873, by a few restored to the list, and by two (Passer montanus and Coturnix dactylisonans) imported and now naturalized species.
The author states that the list includes the names of some twenty or thirty sub-species which “my conservatism would not have allowed me to describe as valid, and the validity of which I can scarcely endorse,” but which are retained because “I preferred, in preparing a ‘Check List’ for general purposes, rather to present the full number of names in current usage, and let them stand for what they may be worth, than to exercise any right of private judgment, or make any critical investigation of the merits of disputed cases.” In view of this declaration, however, we fail to understand why such names as Carpodacus purpureus californicus, Chondestes grammicus strigatus, Picus villosus leucomelas, Bubo virginianus subarcticus, Bubo virginianus saturatus, and Oreortyx picta plumifera should have been denied a place. Nor can we approve the exclusion of certain Audubonian species “not since identified,” as well as some of Giraud’s, which there is no good reason to doubt were actually taken in Texas. “A few Cape St. Lucas birds have been so long in the ‘North American’ list that it is not thought worth while to displace them”; but does not this consideration apply with equal force to many of the Mexican species which are excluded? Our present southern boundary is a political, not a natural one, but this is all the more reason why it should be rigidly adhered to if followed at all. As Dr. Coues remarks, however, it would be far more satisfactory, from a scientific standpoint, to ignore the present arbitrary line and include the whole “Nearctic Region,” thus taking in the table lands of Mexico nearly to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
To the analyses and comparisons succeed “Remarks on the use of Names,” ten pages being devoted to the principles which have guided the author in his philological researches so far as the etymology, orthography, and orthoepy are concerned. This portion of the work has something more than an indirect value, for it forms a condensed, readily available grammar of the subject to which it pertains. The assistance here rendered by his literary associate, Mrs. S. Olivia Weston-Aiken, is fittingly acknowledged in the Introduction.
In the body of the Check List the names are printed in bold type, both English and Latin, and are numbered 1 to 888. Sub-generic names are entirely discarded, as is the sign of “var.” between specific and subspecific terms. The nomenclature of sub-species is therefore trinomial, without the slightest disguise. The technical name is followed by the name of the original describer of the bird, and by that of the authority for the particular combination adopted. The “concordance of previous lists,” mentioned in the title, is effected by referring by number to Baird’s List of 1858, Coues’s Check List of 1874, and Ridgway’s Catalogue of 1880, in the case of every species.
On each page the names are duplicated in smaller type, divided into syllables marked for quantity and accent, and their pronunciation therefore shown, according to the system of orthoepy advocated. The most important point secured, however, is the etymology or derivation of the scientific words. “On the whole,” say the authors of this part of the work, “it has not been our intention to go beyond a good fair definition of these Greek and Latin words, considering that all practical purposes are thus subserved.” The etymologies are really, however, traced far back in many cases. “Nothing of the sort has been done before, to the same extent at any rate, and it is confidently expected that the information here given will prove useful to many who, however familiar they may be with the appearance of the names on paper, have comparatively little notion of the derivation, signification, and application of the words, and who unwittingly speak them as they usually hear them pronounced, that is to say, with glaring impropriety. No one who adds a degree of classical proficiency to his scientific acquirements, be the latter never so extensive, can fail to handle the tools of thought with an ease and precision so greatly enhanced, that the merit of ornithological exactitude may be adorned with the charm of scholarly elegance” (p. 4).
The Check List proper is concluded with “a list of words defined,” alphabetically arranged, and therefore serving as an index to the work.
The volume finishes with a chronological list of Dr. Coues’s writings on ornithology.
Aside from modifications which affect the ornithological or scientific status of the “Check List,” the changes in nomenclature are numerous and radical. Under our accepted, but in certain ways pernicious, system of ornithological nomenclature most of these were probably necessary; but we have little sympathy with the recent upheaval in this respect, nor do we believe that the names at present advocated will prove more stable than those which have preceded them. Stejneger has lately shown[[119]] that neither Coues nor Ridgway reached the foundations; and doubtless some one of an equally enquiring mind and with an imagination still better adapted to interpreting ancient descriptions of uncertain application, will yet come forward and work fresh havoc. The trouble with this kind of investigation is that sufficient regard is rarely paid to the rule that a description must be clearly defined, and that “definition properly implies a distinct exposition of essential characters.” We have not forgotten Mr. Allen’s eloquent protest against the adoption of certain Bartramian names, and there can be no doubt that his objections will apply equally well to the descriptions of many other early authors. Moreover, while we distinctly disclaim any personal application of such a thought, we cannot help believing that if the practice of giving the authority for the arrangement of names were discontinued, there would be less of this meddling with nomenclature. At all events the evil is a terrible one, and it must be stopped, even if the whole code has to be thrown overboard and a new one instituted. So extreme a course, however, is probably unnecessary, for some simple statute of limitation can doubtless be devised which will answer all the required ends. Dr. Coues’s recent suggestion,[[120]] that fifty years of unchallenged usage shall fix a name forever, is an excellent one, but the time of probation might, with advantage, be reduced to twenty-five years. Such a provision, with one requiring all proposed changes to be referred to a tribunal composed of not less than three prominent ornithologists, who might meet for the purpose at intervals of say once in four years, would effectually prevent any further tampering with a system which should be sacred, but which has become a mere football.
With respect to genera we are sorry to notice that Dr. Coues has abandoned certain old-time principles and adopted many of the sub-divisions which he rejected in the edition of 1873. Chief among these are Actodromas, Arquatella, Pelidna, and Ancylochilus, in Tringa; Symphemia and Rhyacophilus in Totanus; Herodias, Garzetta, Hydranassa, Dichromanassa, Florida, and Butorides in Ardea, and Chroïcocephalus in Larus. Turdus, however, is retained for all the Thrushes of the sub-family Turdinæ, and Vireo, in its euphonious simplicity, stands for all the Vireos. While we would not be understood as condemning all the above changes, we consider the majority of them arbitrary, and hence uncalled for. The ever increasing tendency to institute new genera on differences of structure which in other classes of Vertebrates would be considered no more than well-marked specific characters, is one of the banes of modern ornithology. Our systematists seem to have lost sight of the uses for which genera were primarily intended. Of this school, however, Dr. Coues is perhaps among the more conservative members.