Subject: "Circling the wagons?", from Jack Bowling
Date: Apr 28 11:11:29 1996
From: fx at sprynet.com - fx at sprynet.com


Events: 1. Cicero, C and Johnson, N K, of UCBerkeley published "Declining
Scientific Standards in Studies of Avian Distribution", AUK
113:xx, 199x, a review of: "California Birds: Their Status and
Distribution", Small, A, Ibis Publ Co, Vista, CA, 1994.

In support of the title given the review, Cicero and Johnson
state: "Notably lacking are the well-documented records and
meticulous maps that (sic) characterized Grinnel and Miller's
authoritative work."

2. Bowling, J (jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca, 28APR96 0930) objects
to the review (qv).

I concur with Mr. Bowling and cite this deficency in the review:

Small's book is not a "Study of Avian Distribution". Rather,
it represents a compilation of reports of avian distribution.
As such, the applicable standard for inclusion of data is not
the scientific methodology of the author's studies of bird
distribution, but rather the methodology he used in selecting
his source-material.

To repeat: Small does not report the results of a study done
by himself of bird-distribution. He does report the results of
studies done by others. Certainly, the quality and extent of
the bibliography suggests that his standard for citation was
extremely high.

Therefore, Cicero and Johnson's review, having missed the point, might
serve as a stimulus for: "A Study of Declining Standards in Book Reviews".

a Buaidh!
FX

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