182 Notes arid News. i " 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



At the outset of a new year ' The Auk ' finds itself with an abundance of 

 material on hand; a most gratifying condition from the standpoint of 

 the Editor but not perhaps from that of the contributors, since the appear- 

 ance of some of the papers will of necessity be delayed. Under the cir- 

 cumstances a word on the matter of precedence of papers may be in order. 

 It has been the practice of 'The Auk' to keep an exact record of the date 

 of acceptance of each paper and so far as practicable they are published 

 in this order. As, however, 'The Auk' is a journal and not merely a work 

 of reference, and as it appeals to a very wide range of readers, it is necessary 

 to keep the matter in each issue as varied as possible. What might be 

 called "readable" articles are therefore arranged in one series and technical 

 papers and geographic lists in another and the aim of the Editor is to mingle 

 the two judiciously in every issue. If one predominates it is evidence that 

 material of the other kind is lacking. Moreover in accepting papers a 

 wide range of qualifications is considered, for it seems that everything that 

 pertains to ornithology should have a place on the pages of 'The Auk' if 

 it is to be, what we hope it may become, the leading ornithological journal 

 in the world. Therefore papers are accepted for their historic, literary, 

 biographic and economic value as well as for their intrinsic scientific worth. 

 We have heard suggestions to the effect that at the present rate of increase 

 in the production of ornithological literature there would soon be room 

 for another journal of general ornithology in America. But two such 

 journals would of necessity duplicate one another to a great extent and the 

 cost to the subscriber, who would desire to have all the literature, would 

 be doubled. If we could but secure an endowment sufficient to enable 

 us to double the size of 'The Auk' — and $25,000 would do it — then we 

 should be able to disseminate twice as much literature at the same price 

 and to publish all the papers submitted to us promptly while the permanent 

 maintenance of 'The Auk' would be assured. The advancement of orni- 

 thology would seem to be best attained by the widest distribution of 

 ornithological literature at the least cost and the increase in size of an 

 existing journal would accomplish this end better than a multiplication 

 of journals. 



With the new year ' The Auk ' responding to numerous requests publishes 

 the address of each author at the end of his article in order to facilitate 

 correspondence. 



The list of "Publications Received" will be omitted in future since 

 almost all of the books and journals mentioned are reviewed in the same 

 issue in which they are listed. Such as are not reviewed will still be listed 

 as "Additional Publications Received." 



To the many contributors and others who have so generously aided 



