PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS V STANDARD AVIAN SEQUENCES - HEURISTICS AND COMMUNICATION IN ORNITHOLOGY

The past decades have been exciting ones for ornithologists interested in avian macrosystematics with many new ideas being proposed for cons ideration and further study. But this excitement should not blind orni thologists to the important distinction between the provisional classi fications proposed by specialists in macrosystematics, no matter how c onvincing they may appear at first glance, and the standard sequence n eeded to maintain optimal communication among all students of avian bi ologists. An excellent standard sequence for Recent birds exists in Pe ters' Check-list. We urge that all ornithologists, authors and editors use this sequence until the time arrives, as it undoubtedly will, whe n enough is known about avian relationships to permit agreement on a n ew and better standard sequence.