andrews@ubc-cs.UUCP (Jamie Andrews) (02/10/86)
There's an interesting article in the latest _Sci.Am._ about the current wisdom on avian taxonomy. It lists several results due to the method of determining what percentage of the genetic material of one species is shared by another. Does anyone know whether this is now the standard method of taxonomic classification? For recreational birders, I don't think it really should matter much to us that someone has decided the Oregon and Slate-Coloured Juncos are the same species; I still enjoy thinking I've seen both races. I guess have a fairly superficial approach to birding. I'd get as much of a thrill out of seeing an albino crow someday, for instance, than correctly identifying some species of _Empidonax_ to tick it off on my life list. --Jamie. ...!Ihnp4!alberta!ubc-vision!ubc-cs!andrews "And then the lighting of the lamps"