188 



THE OOLOGIST. 



almost wholly to our correspondents 

 and while the rank and file of these 

 are fine, honest fellows — may their 

 tribe increase— with whom it is a pleas- 

 ure to deal we occasionally run amuck 

 of a monster who goes about like a 

 raging lion seeking whom he may de- 

 vour and who in performing his 

 "stunts" leaves rather a bad tast in 

 our mouths. 



An experience covering twenty years 

 has disclosed collectors who have quit 

 the business solely on this account; 

 because they did not care to deal — as 

 one of them put it— "with men who 

 were not content with robbing the birds 

 but who wanted to rob their fellowmen 

 as well." 



It would appear that if concerted 

 action could be had that this might be 

 remedied and the rogues relegated to 

 the tall timber. 



Suppose a committee of five well- 

 known Oologists in whom the frater- 

 nity had explicit confidence could be 

 selected to review any complaints that 

 might arise and act thereon. It would 

 be understood of course— let it be so 

 nominated in the bond— that this tri- 

 bunal should not rush helter-skelter 

 into print every time a dispute occur- 

 red but that they should advise— per- 

 haps admonish— those who were in 

 error and try by all honorable means 

 to adjust the matter with good feelings 

 to all concerned and nobody should be 

 found guilty without a chance for full 

 defense and, if need be, reparation. 

 Let them be conciliatory to a fault even 

 but let it be firmly understood that the 

 real frauds would be severely dealt 

 with. A course of action like this and 

 our favorite science will be robbed of 

 its chief bug-a-boo. 



It is moved therefore that such a 

 committee be hereby appointed with 

 our able editor, E. H. Short as chair- 

 man and Charles S. Thompson, Sec. 

 of Cooper Club, as secretary, the re- 

 maining three— well distributed in lo- 

 cation — to be selected by these two. 

 All in favor say aye. 



A. E. Price. 



When I received this communication 

 from Mr. Price it hardly seemed as 

 though this matter could be as bad as 

 he represented. 



Of course differences of opinion will 

 always arise between collectors as to 

 what constitutes fair usage and first 



class specimens hut that realintention- 

 al fraud could be so rampant that these 

 measures were needed seemed doubtful 

 to me. However, in the last four 

 months I have been called on to in- 

 vestigate a number of reported cases 

 and in at least five instances I have 

 found unquestionable evidence of in- 

 tentional fraud. And there are more 

 that may prove of that nature. 



In the light of these developments I 

 have been in correspondence with Mr. 

 J. L. Childs, C. S. Thompson and 

 others and find a uniform sentiment 

 in favor of such arrangement as Mr. 

 Price suggests. Now I am always 

 busy and of a peaceful disposition and 

 would much rather have someone else 

 fill the position of chairman of such a 

 committee. However, as all seem to 

 think that my position makes me 

 specially desirable in that capacity, I 

 will try to "fill the pew" until some 

 one better able to attend to it can be 

 found. My service must be subject to 

 the following restrictions and con- 

 ditions. 



First. No case shall go from this 

 committee into print until the entire 

 committee shall be satisfied that an 

 actual fraud has been perpetrated. 



Second. No first offense shall be 

 published if party makes prompt and 

 just reparation. 



Third. All complaints should be 

 accompanied by at least ten 2-cent 

 stamps to help defray cost of investi- 

 gation else the chairman will soon be 

 subject to a financial burden that he 

 will derive no compensation for. 



I believe from experience that these 

 conditions are all just. 



Mr. J. L. Childs of Floral Park, N. 

 Y., Mr. A. E. Price of Grant Park, 111. 

 and Mr. C. S. Thompson of Stanford 

 Univ., California have been suggested 

 and agree to serve on such a committee. 

 I would suggest Mr. Philo W. Smith, 

 Jr. of St Louis as a fifth member. Let 

 us hear from him and others. 



