224 ^^^^'•^ ««^ ^^'^'^'- [ap^ 



With the number for January, 1902, 'The Osprej ' entered upon its 

 "new series," considerably altered in appearance and typographical make- 

 up. The January number gives a biographical sketch, with portrait, of 

 Sir John Richardson, the Arctic explorer and naturalist, by Dr. Gill, in 

 addition to other papers of interest and several pages of reviews. In this 

 number the editor, Dr. Gill, begins a ' General History of Birds,' forming 

 a separately paged ' Supplement," to be continued in monthly install- 

 ments. The January installment consists of four pages, the February 

 installment of eight pages, part of which, that relating to the "plumage 

 of birds and their feathers," being contributed by Dr. Hubert Lyman 

 Clark. The February number contains a portrait and a biographical 

 •sketch of Professor Alfred Newton. 



'The Condor' has also donned a new dress, appearing in a new cover 

 design, "typifying the land of the setting sun and its lordly condor" ! 

 The usual higli character of its contents is well sustained, as regards not 

 only its abundant and excellent half-tone illustrations, but the text of 

 each number forms an important addition to current ornithological lit- 

 erature. 



The second edition of Dr. T. S. Palmer's ' Legislation for the Protec- 

 tion of Birds other than Game Birds,' forming 'Bulletin No. 12, U. S. 

 Department of 'Agriculture, Division of Biological Survey,' and origin- 

 ally published in June, 1900, covers the changes due to legislation during 

 1901, and brings the subject down to January i, 1902. The general charac- 

 ter of this 'Bulletin No. 12,' was set forth in some detail at the time of 

 its first appearance (c/. Auk, XVH, July, 1901, pp. 314-315); in the present 

 edition the arrangement and general scope is the same, but the changes 

 in the laws due to new enactments have not only been duly incorporated, 

 but a special chapter has been added on possession and sale of birds, in 

 which references are given to the more important recent decisions regard- 

 ing the constitutionality of laws restricting the sale -within a State of birds 

 captured in other States. The supreme court of the State of California 

 has declared that "the wild game within a State belongs to the people in 

 their collective sovereign capacity. It is not the subject of private owner- 

 ship except in so far as the people may elect to make it so, and they may 

 if they see fit, absolutely prohibit the taking of it, or traffic and commerce 

 in it if it is deemed necessary for the protection or preservation of the 

 public good." The same principle has been upheld in other States, and 

 lies at the very foundation of game and bird protection. The State hence 

 has the right to regulate the seasons during which birds may be taken 

 and possessed, and hence may declare contraband and confiscate birds 

 taken contrary to law ; and in such case, according to the courts, the 

 owner "kas lost 7iothi7ig that beloiigs to him, and there has been no taking 

 of property without due process of law or without just compensation." 



