  In a previews paper we introduced the quantitative method named Reference
Publication Year Spectroscopy (RPYS). With this method one can determine the
historical roots of research fields and quantify their impact on current
research. RPYS is based on the analysis of the frequency with which references
are cited in the publications of a specific research field in terms of the
publication years of these cited references. In this study, we illustrate that
RPYS can also be used to reveal the origin of scientific legends. We selected
Darwin finches as an example for illustration. Charles Darwin, the originator
of evolutionary theory, was given credit for finches he did not see and for
observations and insights about the finches he never made. We have shown that a
book published in 1947 is the most-highly cited early reference cited within
the relevant literature. This book had already been revealed as the origin of
the term Darwin finches by Sulloway through careful historical analysis.
