Is there such thing as too many references for one paper?
One1 thing2 that3 hasn't1,4 been5-7 mentioned8 yet1 is3-5 the9 effect10,11 on2,7,10 readability.12  References13 are14 a15 necessity16 but17 loading18 up19-21 a22 manuscript23,24 with25 too26 many2 will27 often3-5 make5-7 it28 more9,29-31 difficult17 for32 me33 to34 follow35,36 and37-39 can40 be3-5 a13-15,19,21-23,25-27,29-33,35-37,39,40 deterrent.41  If2,3,5,8,13,21,34 a3,4,15,19,26 paper2,7,18,28 turns1,6,18 off1,4,14,21,35 its1,7,32 readers,2,23 it's4,8,15,16,23,42 not6,28 doing1,2,4,8,16,32 its2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23,29,31,37,41 job.42