214 Notes and News. [ Aj* 



tion seen, for instance, .among reptiles, would be incompatible, if not 

 impossible. Hence it is customary, and perhaps justifiable, that a dif- 

 ferent measure is used in dividing the class of birds into minor groups. 

 As Dr. Gill remarks: "The differences between the extremes of the living 

 species are less than those between the groups of the reptilian orders of 

 turtles, or lizards, or serpents, or than those between the suborders of 

 Primales .... or those of Carnivores or Cetaceans." This being the fact, 

 is it better to ignore one of the most important features of the class, — 

 its homogeneity due to its peculiar specialization, — for the sake of 

 measuring the differences among birds by the same unit we naturally 

 employ for reptiles? There are two ways of looking at the matter; 

 everything depends upon the point of view, here as elsewhere. 



Dr. Gill also has a few judicious remarks on the subject of subspecies, 

 apropos of the proposed new work, and outlines his plan as regards 

 synonymy, and the general make-up of the biographies. 



The March number of ' The Osprev ' comes out in a new spring suit 

 of type and cover, and has to all appearances quite recovered from the 

 protracted fall moult of which the editor complained in his earlier 

 numbers. The number also contains several communications of more 

 than usual interest. 



A State ornithological society was organized at Denver, Colorado, 

 Jan. 6, 1899, under the name The Colorado Ornithological Association. 

 At the first meeting, held Feb. 4, the following officers were elected for 

 1899: President, Dr. W. B. Bergtold ; Vice-President, E. J. Oslar; Treas- 

 urer, F. II. Fowler; Recording Secretary, II. S. Reed; Corresponding 

 Secretary, W. Mitchell ; Executive Committee, Dr. Bergtold and Messrs. 

 Dille, Cannon, Mitchell and Collett. Although the present members 

 all reside in Denver, it is intended to make the Association a State 

 society, to include all the ornithologists of the State of Colorado. 



The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club held its annual 

 meeting at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Jan. 5, 1S99. 

 The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, 

 Charles I. Rhoads; Vice-President, Charles J. Pennock ; Secretai^ 

 William A. Shryock; Treasurer, William L. Baily. 



Among the more interesting communications presented to the Club 

 during the past vear, were 'Habits of the Brown-headed Nuthatch,' 

 C. J. Pennock; ' Snap-shots at Birds and Nests,' Wm. L. Baily ; 'Birds of 

 Point Barrow,' E. A. Mcllhenny; 'Birds killed on the Tower of City 

 Hall,' Wm. L. Baily; 'The Hind Limb of Birds,' Wm. A. Shryock; 

 'Summer Birds of Wyoming Co., Pa.,' Messrs. Hughes and Stone; 

 ' Some California Bird Notes,' Henry W. Warrington. 



The average attendance for the past year was twenty-one. 



The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia has recently 

 secured the collection of bird skins formed by Mr. Josiah Hoopes of 



