In a message dated 97-03-19 19:27:24 EST, you write:

<< It is virtually certain that the AOU will publish again this year, and I
have
heard that "Oldsquaw" will be dealt with, and that "Long-tailed Duck" is
preferred. But my information is third-hand, and the AOU's machinations
remain
deeply, darkly mysterious. When the AOU acts, the ABA will act, and this
well-salted wound might have a chance to heal. >>

First, "Long-tailed Duck" is lame, in my opionion, for such a beautiful bird.
Would be like calling the violet-green swallow the laterally-rump-spotted
swallow.

But it is conservative.

This kind of standardization paradigm has wore me out all my life in a number
of areas. It's like naming all the streets in W Wash names like 23rd Ct Ave
E, instead of Cardinal Lane, etc.

For some reason it wears me out. Maybe it's just me.

Life's interesting, let's leave some color in it,
Eric Henriksen
Gig Harbor, WA (Durham, NC right now)