56 



THE CONDOR 



Vol. X 



purpose. Allowing, however, that the first 

 feather of ducks is the first definitive feather 

 plus the down, the relation between the first 

 definitive and the second definitive is much 

 clearer. In figures 90-96 Mr. Jones shows pho- 

 tographs of the second feather of ducks, which 

 is the second definitive according to his asser- 

 tion, bearing at its distal end the first feather, 

 which he regards as the combined down and 

 first definitive. We see then that the relation 

 between the first and second definitive feathers 

 is practically the same as that between the 

 down feather and the first definitive. Yet these 

 are all regarded as relatively separate feathers, 

 and certainly deserve to be in the light of all 

 known facts. 



The paper is interesting as showing the mode 

 of connection between the down barb-vanes 

 and the definitive barb-vanes. It would be in- 

 structive for some future investigator to ex- 

 plain and figure in detail the connection be- 

 tween the first and second definitive feathers. — 

 Walter p. Taylor. 



MINUTES OF COOPER CLUB MEETINGS 



SOUTHERN DIVISION 



May — The Santhern Division of the Cooper 

 Ornithological Club, met at Throop Polytechnic 

 Institute, May 30, 1907. The first part of the ev- 

 ening was filled up with informal consideration 

 of topics of interest, the meeting being called 

 to order about nine o'clock, with President 

 Morcom in the chair. Walter Taylor was se- 

 lected as secretary pro tempore. 



The name of Cyril H. Bretherton was pro- 

 posed for membership by Mr. Grinnell for Mr. 

 Law. Mr. Watson, who is about to leave for 

 Denver, Colorado, handed in several names of 

 possible members of the club. 



As there was no more business to be consid- 

 ered the meeting adjourned, and for the rest of 

 the evening general ornithology and projected 

 summer outings were discussed. 



Members Morcom, Howard, Chamberlain, 

 Judson, Watson, Lamb, Taylor, Willett and 

 Grinnell were present. 



Walter p. Taylor, 



Secretary pro tern 



August. — A specially called meeting of the 

 Southern Division was held in the City Clerk's 

 office, Los Angeles, August 30, 1907. President 

 Morcom called the meeting to order at 8:30 

 p. M. with the following attendants: Dr. T. 

 S. Palmer, J. H. Gaut, H. T. Clifton, O. W. 

 Howard, G. Willett, G. F. Morcom, L. Cham- 

 bers, Alphonse and Antonin Jay, C. E. Cosper, 

 J. E. Law, J. Grinnell, H. J. Lelande. 



The main interest of the evening was cen- 

 tered in the presence of Dr. T. S. Palmer, of 

 the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. 

 Palmer spoke to the Club at length concerning 

 the scope of work of the Bureau of Biological 

 Survey, and especially of his own duties in 

 connection with game preservation. He told 

 very entertaingly of experiences in detecting 

 illicit traffic in game, and of the institution and 

 protection of National game refuges. 



The matter was brought up of the establish- 



ment of game preserves on our own coast. Sev- 

 eral colonies of the Least Tern yet remain, and 

 these deserve protection. It was thought that 

 the readiest means would be thru efforts to in • 

 duce private landowners to post aud patrol 

 their holdings. 



Dr. Palmer was given a hearty vote of thanks 

 for his cordial compliance with the invitation 

 to talk to the Club, and the evening will long 

 be remembered as one of the most enjoyable 

 and profitable in the Club's history. 



J. Eugene Law, 



. Secretary. 



November. — The regular November meet- 

 ing of the Southern Division was held in the of- 

 fices of H. J. Lelande, City Hall, Los Angeles, 

 Cal., Wednesday evening, Nov. 27, with mem- 

 bers G. Frean Morcom, H. J. Lelande, Jos. 

 Grinnell, H. T. Clifton, O. W. Howard, C. E. 

 Cosper, Howard Wright, W. Chamberlain, 

 Walter Taylor and J. E. Law present. 



The minutes of the September meeting were 

 read and approved, and Mr. Howard and Mr, 

 Lelande, who were present at the October 

 outing meeting, gave an oral report. They 

 noted several additions to the list of Newhall, 

 Cal., observations. This list will be published 

 elsewhere. They also noted that the English 

 Sparrow colony there is increasing. 



Applications for membership were proposed: 

 C. O. Esterly, Ph. D., and L. A. Test, Ph. D., 

 both of Los Angeles, Cal., and both proposed 

 by Prof. Loye Holmes Miller; and Robert B, 

 Rockwell, 1322 E. 13th Ave., Denver, Colo., 

 proposed by Joseph Grinnell. In accordance 

 with the By-Laws, action on these was deferred 

 till next meeting. On motion, duly carried, 

 the secretary was instructed to cast the unani- 

 mous ballot of those present electing to active 

 membership Cyril H. Bretherton and R. 

 Magoon Barnes, the latter subject to the ap- 

 proval of the Club-at-large owing to his non- 

 residence in the State. 



Mr. Grinnell proposed a vote of thanks to 

 Mr. Clifton, the retiring business manager of 

 The Condor, for the faithful service rendered 

 the Cooper Club during the years he has han- 

 dled its finances, and for his very efficient 

 management of its business affairs, until now 

 the Club, and with it The Condor, is in a 

 most thriving condition. The motion was 

 heartily approved by all present. 



This being the last regular meeting before 

 the annual election, nominations for 1908 were 

 called for resulting as follows: For President, 

 G. Frean Morcom; Vice President, H. J. Le- 

 lande; Secretary, J. Eugene Law, Treasurer, 

 W. Lee Chambers. 



A paper by Mr. F. C. Willard, Tombstone, 

 Arizona, on the bird life in the vicinity of 

 Tombstone, was read by the secretary in the 

 absence of the author. Mr. Willard records 

 some interesting local notes, and finds bird 

 life much localized, particularly about a few 

 cottonwoods and other trees on the edge of the 

 city. In this little clump no less than 28 pairs 

 of birds representing ten species raised their 

 broods in 1907. Adjourned. 



J. Eugene Law, 

 Secretary, 



