Page:A list of the birds of Australia 1913.djvu/9

 INTRODUCTION.

THE present List is simply the logical sequence to my "Reference List to the Birds of Australia," published in the Novitales Zoologicae, Vol. XVIII, January, 1912. I there placed on record the first attempt to deal with the Birds of Australia from the present day view of subspecies, using that term in its sense of geographical variety.

I have endeavoured to make clear to Australians the present acceptance of geographical varieties as a factor which cannot be overlooked. I would also emphasize the fact that field-ornithologists all over the world are recognizing the value of the cabinet worker's methods of subdivision as being a mode whereby accuracy in field-observation is made possible. It is gratifying to acknowledge that the progressive ornithologists of Australia are rapidly realizing that the Birds of Australia must be studied from such a view-point, and are desirous of having a List for reference showing the subdivisions already effected. The preparation of such a List has been a great pleasure to me, as I feel confident that it will induce research into bird-life all over the Commonwealth. It had been anticipated that the "Official Checklist of the Birds of Australia," prepared by the Committee of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union and published as a supplement to the Emu, Vol. XII., part 3, January, 1913, would suffice, but the Committee have not dealt with the avifauna from an up-to-date point but have produced a List, professedly prepared on a conservative basis, yet in its conservatism quite novel and reactionary and altogether of a parochial character. This is most regrettable as it is quite impossible in the present century to attempt to stem the advance of knowledge however praiseworthy may be the object. The Checklist Committee have prefaced their Checklist wth twenty pages of explanation and justification of their action. This preface is divided into several heads so that easy consideration of the points raised is made possible.