Page:Condor13(3).djvu/3

 THE. CO.B.OR Volume Xlll Ma,'-June, 1911 Number THE LITERARY AND OTHER PRINCIPLES IN ORNITHOLOGICAL WRITING By MILTON S. RAY ROM time to time, in our various ornithological journals, appears criticism of what is termed "popular" ornithology. To discuss this and similar matters the present article is written. I consider the use of the word "popular" in connection with ornithological writing to be rather indefinite and misleading. If the line be drawn between scientific and unscientific ornithology the difference I think would be more clearly defined, for in my opinion any article treating of bird life or bird anatomy, wherein exact facts are given without any deviation from the truth, is scientific no matter in what particular style it is written, popular or other- wise. To some, however, an article must fairly bristle with Latin before it becomes of value. To such, a cheek-list of exclusively Latin names is scientific;, but add the vernacular as well, together with pertinent field notes, and although the article has gained instead of lost, it is now deemed .semi-popular. I appreciate the ad- vantages of Latin as an international language in nomenclature, but here, I think, its advantages end. The former custom of giving all the birds foreign names as well, has, too, a certain merit. I have an old English work which treats almost every bird in this fashion, the description of the raven beginning for instance: "Corvus eorax, the Raven. This well known bird is the Korax of the Greeks; Corvus of the Latins; Corvo, Corbo, and Corvo Grosso of the modern Italians; El Cuervo of the Spaniards; Corbeau of the French; Der Rabe and Der Kohlrabe of the Germans; Korp of the Swedes; Raun of the Danes; Corbie of the Score.h; Cig- fran of the Welsh; Kaw-kaw-gew of the Cree Indians and Toolloo-ak of the Esqui- maux." I can read this with patience and some interest but when it comes to the