14 



THE OOLOGIST 



it a savage appearance. It nests 

 among the rocks in lofty cliffs, laying 

 several white eggs much larger than 

 those of the turkey or goose. Prom 

 1875 to 1885 condors were so abundant 

 in Southern California that I used to 

 see them almost every day, but now 

 they are found only in the wilder 

 mountains. Their eggs bring $100 

 each in the larger museums of the 

 country. 



If an animal is sick or disabled the 

 condor rarely hesitates to attack it, 

 and its fate is soon sealed if it is not 

 strong enough to defend itself or es- 

 cape its enemy. 



Like the condor of the Andes, that 

 of California will so gorge itself with 

 food at times that it can be lassoed in 

 the quick dash of a good horse. A 

 friend of mine at San Jacinto had one 

 that had been caught in that way. But 

 although he had thousands of sheep 

 and cattle, he had to give the bird 

 away, because be could not afford to 

 feed it. It would eat a whole sheep at 

 a meal and then look hungry and sad, 

 as if it were badly treated. 



Standing on the ground at a distance 

 this great bird looks much like a big 

 black Newfoundland dog standing up 

 for a cracker, but in the air it sur- 

 passes in grace and variety of action 

 every other wanderer of the skies. The 

 whooping crane, that floats like a 

 speck of down in the remotest blue; 

 the frigate bird, whose wing seems 

 never made to fold; even the albatross, 

 are all clumsy and monotonous com- 

 pared with the condor. It travels in 

 a series of winding lines, in which sym- 

 metry and grace always govern the 

 boldest sweeps of the highest bursts 

 of speed. 



It is an astonisment to the Editor to 

 learn that such rot as this can be 

 found in a publication of the rank 

 and standing of the Youth's Compan- 

 ion.. Either that publication is deter- 

 iorating or something is the matter. 

 No such misinformation should be per- 

 mitted to enter the columns of any 

 reputable publication. — R. M. B. 



The foregoing is taken from the St. 

 Paul Dispatch of September 25, 1912, 

 and is by that publication credited to 

 the Youth's Companion. 



Death Claims William H. Werner. 



Fortunes may be made and lost. 

 Fame may come upon the worthy and 

 depart. There is but one thing that 

 lives on through years, and that is 

 character, the recollection of the kind 

 sympathies, the loyalty, sincerity and 

 integrity of the man who has gone. 



The thoughts of these good traits be- 

 come enshrined in the minds of his 

 fellow-men. The memory of these 

 may sleep with one's conscience, or 

 may fade and be forgotten, but the 

 mention of his name summons them 

 back to life. 



This sentiment is inspired by the 

 sad demise of Mr. William H. Werner, 

 of Atlantic City, N. J., which came as 

 a distinctive shock to his relatives and 

 friends, who were proud to call him 

 a friend. Mr. Werner, through a long 

 life of usefulness, had endeared him- 

 self to a wide circle of friends, who 

 deeply deplore his loss. 



He was born in Nazareth, Pa., seven- 

 ty years ago, and began the work and 

 research of taxidermist at an early 

 age. Being a born naturalist, he com- 

 bined the two talents and built up the 

 fine collection of birds, etc., which was 

 for many years exhibited on the 

 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, known as 

 the "Wonderland." This collection 

 represented his life's work, in which 

 he had his whole heart interest, and 

 experts of this country and abroad 

 have pronounced the collection one 

 of the finest of private collections in 

 the world. Every animal and bird in 



