iSgi.] Notes and News. 



123 



then only witli great risk to the explorer, owing to the total absence of 

 potable water for long distances. The party is expected to occupy the 

 field for at least eight months, extending the survey over a considerable 

 area of contiguous country, including the Mount Whitney region at the 

 westward. The party is especially equipped for the trying work before it, 

 every precaution being taken to guard against undue risk, and to secure 

 the best results. In personnel and outfit, no party was ever better pre- 

 pared for systematic field work in biology. The scientific staff' will in- 

 clude, in addition to Mr. Palmer, Dr. A. K Fisher, Mr. Vernon Bailey, 

 Mr. E. W. Nelson, and Mr. F. Stephens, as zoologists — all trained experts 

 in this line of research. Prof. F. W. Coville, of the Botanical Division 

 of the Department of Agriculture, has been detailed to accompany the 

 expedition as botanist. A topographer accompanies the party for the 

 purpose of running contour lines and determining with precision the alti- 

 tudes of the life zones. Dr. Merriam, with other assistants, will join tlie 

 expedition later, when the party will number not less than ten, exclusive of 

 cooks and packers. It is expected that an area of not less than 30,000 

 square miles will be mapped, on a scale of four miles to the inch, with 

 contour lines for every 100 feet. A portion of the region is depressed 

 from 200 to 300 feet below sea level. Under all these conditions the 

 results cannot fail to be of the utmost interest. 



Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, U. S. A., proposes to make a critical study of 

 the Sparrow Hawks (the Falco sparverius group) and the Snipes (^Gal- 

 linago dclicata) of North America, and for this purpose solicits the loan 

 of material for use in these investigations. Due credit will be given for 

 aid thus rendered, and the specimens returned to the owners at the earli- 

 est practicable moment. The packages should be addressed, Dr. Edgar 

 A. Mearns, Capt. Medical Department, U. S. A., Fort Snelling, Minn. 



Mr. J. A. Ai.LEN desires to make a careful investigation of the relation- 

 ships of the various North American forms of the genus Colaptes, and so- 

 licits the loan of material for examination. Large series of specimens 

 representing, respectively, C chrysoides, C. cafer, C. cafer sattiraiior, 

 C. mexi'canotdes, and C. ruficapilcus are especially desired. Also, C. 

 auratus from any point west of the Mississippi River, or any specimens 

 from the East showing any departures from the typical phase of the 

 species. 



Specimens may be forwarded at anytime prior to November i, 1S91 ; 

 but as man}' as possible should be in hand by October i, in order that a 

 report on the material, with an exhibition of specimens, may be 

 presented at the next A. O. U. Congress, immediately after which the 

 material will be returned to the owners. The packages should be ad- 

 dressed to Mr. Allen, American Museum of Natural History, 77th St. and 

 8th Ave., New York City. 



