Dave Wright writes:
> Someone forwarded that post from a "discussion" on birdchat (I wasn't
> trying to start a brawl on tweeters...). The point was that species
> concepts are arbitrary and which one is "correct" depends on what
> properties you think a species should have.

I hope I didn't offend you with my posting. The fact is no offense
was intended. I reiterate that your posting was interesting to me,
the questions I asked were honest questions. They may have been a
bit off the subject, however. I was hoping to use your posting
as a base for a continuing discussion which could hopefully clear up
these and other questions I have.

I still am not clear about the correspondence between the new DNA
techniques and the 5 percent rule, if any. Has anybody heard of this
definition (the 5 % rule) of species ? I learned of it from a birder in
California.

> There is no "original definition" of species (or did I miss something in
> the Old Testament?) other than its ancient, general use which is roughly
> synonymous with "kind" (cf. species of mineral).

Perhaps "original definition" was a bad choice of words. I rephrase as
"one definition that I have heard of, although I believe an old one".
Maybe this is just the layman's definition. I realize now that there
are more than one available definitions of "kind". The one I am interested
in is the one which gives birth to the modern classification of
birds (and othere life forms) into the "species" which appear in
popular field guides.

In any case, E-news is not necessarily the best media for such discussions.
I am however interested in further discussion on this topic, and
invite Dave or anybody else to stop by to talk about this topic
over a glass or two of "the Famous Grouse" which I picked up duty free
on return from Boundary Bay last weekend.

Actually, I had had a glass or two when I posed my questions, which
may account for the apparent beligerency of my posting. I hope
my apologies are accepted.


Neil J. Fergusson ******************
1405 1/2 NE 56th St. * Baffins *
Seattle, WA 98105 * or *
(206) 517-5466 * bust *
njf7i at kelvin.seas.virginia.edu ******************