i6o 



THE NIDIOLOGIST. 



vSt. IvUcas Sparrow Hawk. The Sparrow 

 Hawk, he sa3'S, is subject to slight but cou- 

 staut geographical variatious iu a good 

 nian\- localities, but he did not feel quite 

 justified in descril^ing more of them. The 

 Desert Sparrow Hawk's habitat is given as 

 "South-western Ignited States, north to 

 northern California and western Montana, 

 south to Mazatlan in north-western 

 Mexico." It is larger than F. sparverins 

 and has a longer tail in proportion to its 

 size. It is paler and more rufous, and al- 

 though a mere description does not indicate 

 much, when a good series of specimens are 

 brought together the two races are ver}^ 

 distinct. Californian collectors can rest as- 

 sured that their birds l)elong to the new 

 race. " 



A paper on the Ospre}- was read by Mr. 

 Chamberlin. Messrs. F. I. Atherton of 

 Los Gatos and L,. P. Williams of Redlands 

 were elected to membership. A. discussion 

 took place as to the desirability of fixing a 

 standard of prices by which to exchange 

 nests of Californian birds, and the Secre- 

 tar}' was instructed to secure from each 

 member such a list. 



The following are now enrolled on the 

 books of the Club as members: F. A. 

 vSchneider, H. R. Painton, Geo. Chamber- 

 lin, Cory Chamberlin of College Park; \V. 

 H. Osgood, C. Barlow, V. A. Benson, U. 

 S. Clark of San Jose; F. I. Atherton of 

 Los Gatos; R. C. McGregor. R. L. Willnir 

 of Palo Alto; L. \V. Brokaw of Salinas; H. 

 R. Taylor of Alameda; H. M. Hall of Riv- 

 erside; A. M. Shields of Los Angeles; O. 

 P. Silliman of Watson ville; R. H. Beck of 

 Berryessa; Ivdw. Wall of San Bernardino; 

 A. W. John.son of Upper Lake; L. P. Wil- 

 liams of Redlands; A. C. Murchison of 

 Colton (removed to Ills); Ralph Arnold, 

 Joe Grinnell, W. W. Judson, Horace A. 

 Ciaylord of Pasadena. 



C. Barlow, Secretarv. 



Valuations for Western Nests. 



WIC, the undersigned Ornithologists of Cali- 

 fornia, and members of the Cooper Orni- 

 thological Club, have felt for years the 

 necessity of abandoning the custom of 

 exchanging the nests of our birds at the 

 price of an egg, for the reason that in most cases it 

 is inconsistent. 



While a few Ornithologists may not collect nests 

 with their eggs, to the majority the original nest 

 enhances the value of a set at least one-half, for as 

 it has been said, the nest and not the egg exhibits 

 the intelligence and tastes of a bird. 



The three important items in considering the 

 value of a nest sliould be its rarity, beauty and size, 

 and these have been most carefully weighed ni 

 compiling the appended list of prices. 



We believe that the rarity of a nest, and the con- 

 sequent rarity of the eggs, increases its desira- 

 bility, and hence its value. The beauty of a par- 

 ticular nest should also figure in fixing a price of 

 exchange upon it, as it gives a corresponding value 

 to the collection into which it goes. The nest of 

 the California Bush-Tit may be cited as an ex- 

 ample. 



The third item (size) is not less important, for 

 the trouble of collecting bulky nests, as well as the 

 extra postage thereon, should be borne in mind. 



We are aware that the action taken may invite 

 criticism, but we should uphold and favor similar 

 action by Eastern Ornithologists, and invite all 

 Western collectors to subscribe to this agreement, 

 provided they can conscientiously do so. 



W'e have decided upon these prices of exchange 

 after due and careful deliberation of individual 

 lists submitted, and hereby agree and pledge our- 

 selves to be governed hereafter in exchanging 

 nests entirely by the following prices: 



A. O. U. Nos. 141, $i; 132, $i; 143, $1.25; 146, 

 $1.25; 210, $2.50; 214, 50c; 221, 75c; 219, |l; 312, 

 $1.50; 316, 25c; 328, $10; 337h, $20; 385, $1.25; 

 387a, 50c; 429, 50c; 430, 75c; 431, 50c; 433, 75c; 

 434. 75c; 447, 35c; 44^, 5oc; 454. 75^^; 45^. 60c; 

 462, 35c; 464, 35c; 466, 35c; 476, $15; 478a, $2; 

 481, $i; 497, 25c; 499, 3Sc; 500, 40c; soib, 20c; 

 505a, see; 50S, 35c; 510, 50c; 519, 20c; 529, 15c; 

 529a, 20c: 530, 20c; 531, 30c; 542c, $1.50; 552a, 

 20c; 554b, 25c; 560a, 20c; 5670, 90c; 574, 90c; 581c, 

 20c; 58UI, 20c; s88a, 35c; 591b, 25c; 596, 30c; 597a, 

 40c; 599, 35c; 607, 90c; 615, 60c; 617, 35c; 620, 

 40c; 622h, 35c; 627, 40c; 632, $2; 633a, 75c; 646a, 

 $r.25; 652, 20c; 665, $2.50; 680, $2; 68ia, 40c; 

 683a, 40c; 685a, $l; 701, $3: 703, 25c; 710, $1; 

 713. $i-5o; 715,90c; 7i7'i, $i; 717I', $5; 7«9''^. 40c; 

 722a, $1.50; 725a, 50c; 733, 50c; 742, 75c; 743a, 

 50c; 751a, 50c; 753, 50c; 758, 50c. 



(Signed}— Ralph Arnold, F. I. Atherton, C. 

 Harlow, R. H. Ikck, L. W. Hrokaw, U. vS. Clark, 

 Corv Chamberlin, Horace A. Gavlord, Jos. Grin- 

 nell', H. INI. Hall, W. B. Judson, R. C. McGregor, 

 W. H. Osgood, II. R. Painton, F. A. vSchneider, 

 Oscar 1'. Silliman, H. R. Tavlor, A. M. Shields, 

 I<:dw. W^all, R. L. Wilbur, L. P. Williams. 



I foun<l two nests of the Violet-green vSwallow 

 this vear in holes in rock, an unusual nesting site. 

 — H.R. Tayi.ok. 



Rev. P. B. Peabody is now Chaplain and 

 Instructor in Greek, Latin and higher Eng- 

 lish at the Jjreck School, Wilder, Minn. 

 He still has lime to look after the birds. 



