Editorial 
Bird: Lore 
A Bi-monthly Magazine 
Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds 
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES 
Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN 
Published by D. APPLETON & CO. 
Vol. XII Published June 1, 1910 No. 3 
SUBSCRIPTION RATES 
Price in the United States, Canada and Mexico twenty cents 
a number, one dollar a year, postage paid. 
COPYRIGHTED, 1910, BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN 
Bird-Lore’s Motto: 
A Bird in the Bush is Worth Two in the Hand 
THE American Museum of Natural 
History’s expedition to Mexico, of which, 
in explanation of the absence of Birp- 
Lore’s editor, we have given news in our 
two preceding issues, returned to New 
York May 1, after having successfully 
accomplished the work it had in view. 
Camps were established from sea-level 
to an altitude of 12,000 feet on Mt. 
Orizaba, and the ornithological experi- 
ences of the members of the expedition 
were as varied as the difference between 
faunas characterized, on the one hand, by 
Parrots, Trogons and Roseate Spoonbills, 
and, on the other, by Crossbills, Juncos 
and Evening Grosbeaks, would imply. 
Own the preceding page of this issue of 
Birp-LorE, Dr. Palmer concludes his 
review of recent numbers of ‘The Condor’ 
with some pertinent remarks on phonetic 
spelling. Why will authors handicap them- 
selves by presenting their thoughts in 
words often so strangely spelled that the 
sense they were designed to convey is in a 
large measure weakened by the ludicrous- 
ness of their appearance? The humor 
of Artemus Ward’s sayings is admittedly 
largely due to the absurd phonetic spelling 
which he employed so effectively; but 
assuredly no scientist should clothe his 
ideas in a form which appeals primarily to 
one’s sense of the ridiculous. 
THE attention of Brrp-LORE’s readers 
is called to the work of the American Bird- 
I2T 
Banding Association, as announced in 
its circular of February 10, 1910. The 
object of this Association is to record the 
movements of individual wild birds by 
attaching to their legs small metal bands. 
so marked (“Notify ‘The Auk’ New 
York”) that, should a bird so banded ever 
fall into other hands, this occurrence 
would be duly reported, and some idea 
of its travels be thus obtained. “This 
method of studying migration,” the 
circular states, “has now been employed 
in a number of European countries for 
several years, and noteworthy results have 
been obtained.” 
The circular continues: ‘‘For the benefit 
of any who may fear that the prosecution 
of this work may be detrimental to bird- 
life, it should be stated that the Association 
is thoroughly in sympathy with the con- 
servative efforts of the Audubon Societies 
in this country. The shooting of birds 
for the recovery of bands is in no way a 
part of the scheme. It is desired to have 
banding done only by reliable persons, 
and, should it be found that the banding 
of any species is doing harm, either from 
the disturbing of the nestlings, or from 
other causes, such work on that species. 
will be discountenanced. As a guaranty 
of good faith, it may be mentioned that 
the present membership includes not only 
many of the foremost members of the 
American Ornithologists’ Union but also 
leaders of the Audubon movement in 
America.” 
Applications for membership and remit- 
tances of dues ($1 yearly) should be sent to 
the Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. C. J. Pen- 
nock, Kennett Square, Pa. Persons in- 
terested in the banding, and caring to assist 
in this part of the work, should address 
Dr. Leon J. Cole, College of Agriculture, 
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. 
THE recent victory over the millinery 
interests won by the National Association 
and New York Audubon Societies (see 
beyond page 128), is one of the most 
notable illustrations of the power of a 
thoroughly aroused public sentiment in 
the history of bird protection. 
