104 THE CONDOR Vol. XVI most needed. They give authoritative facts about the birds of the district treated, and are extren{ely useful. Such AWFAUNAS should be printed in large enough numbers so that they can be furnished to every interested school teacher and student of birds in the district covered. In spite of the fact that the recording of field observations, such as migra- tion and nesting dates, has been carried on systematically by some of our mem- bers since the formation of the Club, yet it is astonishing to find how limited our knowledge of the life-histories of many of our native birds really is. This has been especially apparent to me as I have, during the past year, attempted to obtain information on the life-histories of our game birds. The first strik- ing discovery was the extremely small amount of detailed facts on record; the second was the lack of specific information where it was most needed. To illustrate: An attempt was made to assemble statistics as regards the nesting dates of the California Valley Quail, to' serve as a basis for correctly placing the open season. When on the track of records I would repeatedly run across such statements as "during the summer, while working in a hay-field I dis- covered five quail nests". In such a statement three important details .are lacking,--the exact species, the exact date, and the exact locality. We find, therefore, that we have not yet discovered very much of what birds do. Even though we see far enough ahead to know that our next step will be to find out why they do certain things, yet it is well that we still empha- size the gathering of those facts which must act as a foundation for more ad- vanced problems. We have not outgrown this phase of our activity and we never will. We should, on the other hand, more largely emphasize it during the coming years and, above all, improve the accuracy and compass of notes taken and recorded. In spite of the fundamental need for the services of the man who attempts to put in systematic order our knowledge of the relationships of birds, the old type of systematist is passing away. Apparently the lure of modern biological problems, in which the immediate bearing is more clearly seen, deters many from remaining in this field. The man who improves our classification and nomenclature lays the foundation without which the so-called higher types of investigation cannot be carried on. Just one case in point: The present trend of investigation on the origin of species,--the problem which has longest inter- ested the biologist,--toward the isolation theory awaits a more dependable classification of animals at the hand of the acute systematist at this very moment. We may have come to the point where the description of a new species is seldom justified; but the extent of variation, intergradation, and
geographical distribution of our different species furnishes problems to the
systematist that are most important. Biologists are describing about 10,000 new forms annually. Whatever may be said as to the advisability of such a proceeding, it gives us an idea as to what an immense field the biologist has in which to work. We are at the present time seeing just the beginning of a new science ?vhich deals with the relation of animals to their environment, and this science ?ve call ecology. The ecologist must necessarily depend almost entirely upon the systematist for workable material. Here then is a plea for men who are willing to remain below ground, as it were, out of the light while they lay the foundation. Current recognition may not give due credit to the systematist, but time will prove the worth of his service. Of recent years a new type of naturalist has joined our ranks, namely, the
