68 THE NIDOLOOIST 
Published and “Tae PIONEER 
Edited by Magazine of 
HenRyY R. TAYLOR 
Illustrated Bird Life. 
Founded at Alameda, “California, September, 1895 
WE EXPOSE FRAUDS 
Official one Cooper Ornithological ¢ Club bof the Pacific Coast 
Subscription Gn advance), $1.00 
(Foreign SHSSSSNISS add 12 cents for postage) 
Single Copies, - 15 cents 
Remittance may be made i in any form 
The Magazine is not sent after subscriptions have expired 
FOREIGN AGENTS 
2 Bouverie Street, Fleet Street, 
Swann & Co., 1- London 
(ee 
~ Original contributions, with or without illustrations, are 
desired. 
ADVERT ISING RAT E Ss FURNISHED 
It SEEMS fitting, at the opening of auother 
year, to remark the fact that the files of this 
journal have been noteworthy for its valuable, 
original observaticns on the habits of little known 
or unknown species. A cursory examination of 
recent numbers will amply verify this assertion. 
In August, Mr. W. H. Osgood contributed an 
article on the ‘‘Nest and Eggs of the Calaveras 
Warbler.’’ Inthe September number, Mr. Reck 
described the taking of the first fully authentic 
nest and eggs of the Western Evening Grosbeak, 
both being accurately figured with a colored plate; 
while Mr. C. H. Morrell presented valuable notes 
on the nesting of the Pileated Woodpecker. In 
the October number, Mr. A. W. Anthony gave 
the jirst descriptions of the eggs and breeding 
habits of three almost unknown Petrels. 
Next month’s Nrp will contain an article on the 
nesting of the Bald Eagle in California and one 
on the ‘‘Nest and Eggs of the Hermit Warbler.” 
In our last number, Mr. Benjamin Hoag gave to 
Ornithologists his most interesting discovery of 
the nesting of the American Crossbill in 
numbers in New York. The articles, presented 
herewith, on the nesting habits of the White- 
throated Swift, the Red-bellied Hawk and the 
Dusky Poor-will, with the first photographs ever 
taken of a /ive California Vulture, now nearing 
extinction, accompanied by notes on its habits, 
simply emphasize the work which this journal, 
through its able supporters, is accomplishing for 
Ornithology, making it indispensable to all well 
informed workers. 
eS eg 
THERE is an instructive story by a humorous 
author about a literary man who, having madea 
moderate start as a writer, took unto himselfa 
wife. The great happiness incident to this event 
gave such inspiration that he wrote a wonderfully 
pathetic story, ‘‘His Deceased Wife’s Sister.”” A 
favored editor accepted it with gratitude; it was 
the hit of the author’s career. After a time he 
wrote another story. It was a good one, but did 
not show the exuberant genius of a rare moment, 
and it was returned to him by the publisher of his 
great success with a note expressing disappoint- 
ment. It was not equal to ‘‘His Deceased Wife’s 
Sister,’” he said, and it would never do to spoil the 
great reputation his masterpiece had gained. He 
tried other editors, and each returned his MS.; it 
was good, they all wrote, but they had really 
expected something like ‘His Deceased Wife’s 
Sister.”’ 
The situation became desperate, the once suc- 
cessful writer could no longer profit by his pen. 
Reduced almost to beggary he conceived the idea 
of publishing his stories under an assumed name. 
The editor who had given his great literary 
triumph to the world consented to the plan, and 
once more he was fairly prosperous. There was 
no ‘‘divine afflatus” about his stories, but they 
were good and made their way. 
Now it happened that the young author came to 
be blessed with a son. In all the freshness of new 
joy he began to write a tale. At last it was fin- 
ished, and his wife read it with tears in her eyes. 
She declared with her heart swelling with pride 
that it was indeed equal to ‘‘His Deceased Wife’s 
Sister.” 
At this moment of happiness a dreadful thought 
entered the mind of each. It was a critical 
moment. The warmth of her joy turned to ice as 
as she said to him: ‘‘Be strong, be brave!” 
He_ understood, and taking up the brilliant, 
pathetic story he placed it in a box in the garret, 
hermetrically sealed, there to lie until he should 
be dead. 
The moral of this little story in its relation to 
Ornithology will be found in its application. 
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WE HAVE decided to eliminate from our review 
department hereafter, matter of foreign and techni- 
cal nature which can be better replaced by fresh 
original articles from the field. In taking this 
step our nominal associate relations with Dr. 
Shufeldt, who has been conducting this depart- 
ment, are coincidently severed. 
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THE editor of a new Ornithological journal 
ingenuously states in an advertisement that his 
paper “is notintended to gain money for its pub- 
lisher.’”’? We feel sure that his earnest desire not to 
make any money will be fully realized, and trust 
he may have great joy in its very certain fulfill- 
ment. 
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GEORGE A. Morrison, of Fox Lake, Wis., 
under date January 2, writes: ‘Our open season 
in Wisconsin has been the cause of the absence of 
many winter visitants. We have had little snow 
so far and the roads have been bare all winter.”’ 
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I ENJOY THE NIDOLOGIST very much, and con- 
sider it the best magazine of its kind I have ever 
seen, and look forward to its coming as a rare 
treat. A. C. BENT 
Taunton, Mass. 
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Our March issue will be of 24 instead of 16 pages 
and will contain much interesting matter. ~ 
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