THE NiniOLOGIST. 



29 



THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL 

 CLUB. 



Observing ornithologists cannot fail to 

 have noticed the lack of organization among 

 the fraternity throughout the Pacific States, 

 while in the East flourishing ornithological 

 societies are numerous. It is not because 

 of lack of material, for we have many 

 earnest and intelligent collectors in Califor- 

 nia, while the many species that breed and 

 occur form a wide field for research. It is 

 therefore apparent that something is neces- 

 sary to revive interest, and we hope the 

 Cooper Ornithological Club will answer 

 the purpose. This club was organized in 

 San Jose on June 22. It is our desire 

 to have all the honest, active ornithologists 

 in the State enrolled on our books. 



We have held several meetings, which 

 have been highly interesting and full of 

 enthusiasm. At the present writing (Sep- 

 tember 4) the following have signed our 

 constitution as active members: Wilfred H. 

 Osgood, Uriah I,. Hertz, and C. Barlow of 

 San Jose; Fred A. Schneider, Harry R. 

 Painton, and V.A. Benson of College Park; 

 Louis W. Brokaw of Salinas, and A. M. 

 Shields of Los Angeles. At our regular 

 meeting of September 12 a number of new 

 members are to be elected. 



Any ornithologist in the State over 16 

 years of age and in good standing may be- 

 come a member of the club upon subscrib- 

 ing to the ofiicial organ, and| notifying the 

 secretary of his desire to join. His name 

 will be balloted upon and the constitution 

 sent him to read and sign. Mr. Taylor has 

 kindly agreed to mail the Nidiologist to 

 members of the club at the reduced rate of 

 75 cents per year. At each meeting some 

 special topic will be discussed. Some mem- 

 ber will be given the subject to prepare, 

 and all other members will be expected to 

 send their observations, which will assist 

 in making the discussion complete. All per- 

 sons joining the club, and who reside in 

 distant parts of the State, will take an 

 active part by sending their notes, which 

 will be read before the society. 



In each issue of the Nidiologist will be 

 published ! a full report of the previous 

 meeting, though it will of course be neces- 

 sary to condense the leading papers. In 

 each issue will also appear the programme 

 for the coming meeting. In this brief paper 

 it cannot be expected that a full outline of 

 our plans can be given, but if any one who 



is desirous of full particulars will correspond 

 with the Secretary, Chester Barlow, Santa 

 Clara, Cal., he will gladly be given the de- 

 sired information. 



A few words as to our meetings. For 

 the first quarter we elected the following 

 officers: President, W. H. Osgood; Vice- 

 President, H. R. Painton; Secretary, C. 

 Barlow, and Treasurer, F. A. Schneider. 

 We had at first intended to have semi- 

 monthly meetings, but as many of the mem- 

 bers find this inconvenient, we have agreed 

 to meet on the first Saturday evening of 

 each month, alternately at the residences 

 of members in San Jose and College Park, 

 and all who live within a reasonable dis- 

 tance from these points are asked to exert 

 themselves to be present at the regular 

 meetings. 



At the meeting of August 15 the feat- 

 ure of the meeting was a lecture by F. A. 

 Schneider on the "Shrikes of California." 

 He reported that the Great Northern, 

 Baird's, White-rumped and Californian had 

 been found to occur, though the latter was 

 by far the most common. Mr. Osgood read 

 an article on "Nesting of the Cinnamon 

 Teal." Messrs. Hertz, Benson and Brokaw 

 were initiated into the club; Upon ballot 

 the Nidiologist was selected as the official 

 organ by a unanimous vote. 



A report of the meeting of September 

 12 will appear in the next number. The 

 following is to be the programme: Lecture, 

 "The Wrens of California, " W. H. Osgood; 

 paper, "The Song Sparrows of Cahfornia," 

 H. R. Painton; paper, "The Pj'gmy Nu- 

 thatch," L. W. Brokaw. 



Finally, any honest ornithologist in the 

 State may consider that he is asked to join 

 us, and if he will remit the subscription 

 price of the ofiicial organ and notify the 

 Secretary, his name will be presented. 



Program for the meeting October 12: 

 This meeting will be held at Mr. Schnei- 

 der's residence, at College Park, Cal. We 

 have decided to take up the family of 

 Warblers, or rather those which occur in 

 this State. The Yellow and Pileolated 

 Warblers will be discussed, the meeting to 

 be led by Mr. Barlow. All members will 

 please send their observations on these 

 birds. In addition to this, Mr. Osgood will 

 read a paper on ' 'Collecting in a California 

 Marsh," and Mr. H. R. Painton one on the 

 "Slender-billed Nuthatch." Remember 

 the meeting, October 7th. 



C. Bari^ow, Secretary. 



Santa Clara, Cal. 



