Page:Condor7(3).djvu/11

 66 THE CONDOR Vo,. VII glacial geology, and in physiography, is indispensable; he then must acquire by patient work in the closet the vast amount of detailed knowledge of species and subspecies, and by training in the field the necessary qualifications as collector and observer. When he has thus mastered his "technique" he will be prepared totake up various problems under proper guidance, and in course of time be able to take a leading part in advancing a branch of zoology which has always held a prominent and honorable place among the biological sciences. It is not necessary for me here to indicate the many problems which await so- lution. Let the young student of ornithology prepare himself under competent teachem, and if he amounts to anything, he will soon be associated in the work, and guided toward the problems which present themselves. As a rule, the man of science does not go around hunting for problems, asking himself: "What shall I investigate next?" On the contrary, the problems grip him by the throat, and demand to be solved, and give him no rest until he tackles them and subdues them as best he can with the xveapons he can command. I am afraid you wish me to give the young man nore definite advice along specified lines. This I am unable to do, but it seems to me that if he reads the above, he may be able to formulate his own "do" and "don't." I have only been wanting to speak to the earnest student who desires to follow ornithology as a science, and a life work. My advice is not for the man or boy who seeks in bird study an agreeabl e pastime, or an interesting hobby. They need not my advise, and would not take it if given! Do not think that I am down on the amateur as such; on the contrary, I am not. He is, and has been, exceedingly useful. But it is the amateur who poses as a scientific ornithologist without having the true scientific instinct who is a nuisance. The amateur's proper field is the gathering of facts, the professional's is to apply them. While the former requires some train- ing in order that his observations may be of value, the latter requires the prepara- tion and training which only a life devoted exclusively to the scientific subject can give. And right here is the difference between the professional and amateur in science, in contradistinction to the meaning of the two terms in sport. In the latter, the criterion is whether the man performs a certain work for money, or not; in science it depends upon whether the scientific pursuit is the main activity of the man's life, or only a side issue subordinate to other work and other duties. It is for the future professional ornithologist that I have written. Yours sincerely, [Signed] LEOIAR) STEJNEC;ER. Odiham Priory, Winchfield, England, Feb. 54, x9o5. ])EAR MR. FISHER: In reply to your questions I may say that there is still an enormous amount of good work to be done in Ornithology, especially in the branches of Anatomy and Pterylography, in which there are few workers at present. But I should not recommend any students to take it up solely with the idea that they could make a livelihood on it. They might be disappointed. But if they have a real love of birds let them pay special attention to these branches, as recommended in several of the prefaces to "The Ibis." Yours very faithfully, [Signed] P.L. SCL.TER.