For in it the reader will see a confusion of fiinctions, viz., exploitation of the interests 

 of the M. C. O., and an exposition of some of the problems of pure oology. It is 

 time to separate these functions, and if this present "call to the colors" is reasonably 

 well received, we shall launch "The Comparative Oologist," first as an annual, and 

 later as a quarterly, illustrated magazine, to be devoted solely to descriptive and 

 comparative oology and "the breeding cycle." The Journal of the Museum of Com- 

 parative Oology will at the same time resume its functions as a quarterly exponent 

 of the Museum interests, and it will take on the additional responsibility of promoting 

 the new organization of the Members of the M. C. O., becoming the official organ of 

 that society. 



The third object proposed in the organization of the Members of the M. C. O. is 

 the support of the Museum in its co-operative functions. If the Museum is in any 

 real sense to belong to the collecting world, then it is fair that it should receive a portion 

 ot its support from that world. Indeed, it is the forcing of the issue of present 

 service to the outside world which has led us to offer to take that world into partner- 

 ship, a partnership of responsibility as well as of privilege. Our task is the upbuilding 

 of an oological museum which shall be in reality a common possession, and which shall 

 be able from the outset to function vigorously as the exponent of oological science. To 

 do this will require a generous expenditure in publication; and it is proposed that 

 the new organization, the Members of the Museum of Comparative Oology, shall 

 meet a portion of this expense, as well as other related expenses devolving later, by 

 the payment of fixed annual dues. These annual dues, Five Dollars for Members, 

 Collector Members and Exchange Members, and One Dollar for Associates (who will 

 receive only the Journal), will be high in proportion to the value individually received 

 at first; yet by no possibility will the aggregate, for several years to come, equal the 

 amount actually expended by the Museum treasury on behalf of its Members. For 

 example, this issue of the Journal costs us in the neighborhood of $600, and we shall 

 be agreeably surprised to have eighty outside enrollments of full member rank the 

 first year (there are already more than thirty, and fifty local registrants, besides 

 Patrons.) Two years hence the expenditure for the Journal and "Comparative 

 Oologist" combined should be in the neighborhood of $2,000; and five years hence 

 in the neighborhood of $5,000. 



It goes without saying that visiting members will enjoy every privilege extended 

 to the local body of members, participation in bird-walks, study meetings, access 

 to the collections, etc. It will be a pleasure to cultivate these personal contacts, 

 and we look forward with hospitable complaisance to the time when Santa Barbara 

 shall be recognized as a sort of Mecca for oologists, a rendezvous for the faithful, 

 toward which every pious bird-nester, however distant, will direct his footsteps at 

 least once in a lifetime. That this need not be an idle dream is evidenced by a 

 roster of Santa Barbara's notable visitors appearing elsewhere in this Journal. 



The success of the plan outlined will depend primarily upon whether we have 

 "guessed right" as to the factors involved. We guess, or rather we have a very 

 strong conviction, that the fellowship of field experience in collecting will be a very 

 real fellowship. There are infinite possibilities of delightful association ahead. We 

 believe that a Bureau of Registration and exchange of confidences will confer a 

 distinct benefit upon all who participate. We believe that an actual co-operation 

 through the pooling of highly significant material will enable us to solve problems 

 which no private collector can solve, and which no other public institution has 

 attempted. We believe, that is, that Oological Science can best be served by a world- 

 wide fellowship of Members supporting, owning, and partly controlling the Museum 

 of Comparative Oology. 



The success of our ambitious program for oology will depend, also, upon another 

 factor, a very important one, patience. Partly because of the writer's own limitations 

 of time (as set forth elsewhere in these pages), but more because of the need of 

 further counsels and contacts and an actual sharing of responsibilities, the writer 

 feels that he will require at least two years' time to work out the completest details 

 of a consistent, responsible, and mutually beneficial organization. It is for this reason 

 that we defer discussion of the qualifications of Collector and Exchange Members until 

 a future issue. For these reasons, also, we do not wish to be understood as promising 

 too much, or undertaking too much. We are anxious to put co-operation upon so 

 simple a basis that we can get under way at once. We shall discover in due course 

 of time what sort of materials we have to work with; and how co-operation can best 

 be made to serve the common good. That discovery will require patience. 



We are particularly anxious at the outset not to make large promises nor arouse 

 false hopes in regard to money matters. Better far to regard your annual dues as a 

 contribution to the institution, by means of which and in view of which the institution 

 will endeavor to serve a large public. Better so regard it than as payment for maga- 

 zines and personal benefits which certainly cannot be worth five dollars a year at the 

 outset. In order to obviate any residual unpleasantness connected with the payment 

 of dues for remote benefits, we are going to propose a plan for temporary use, and 



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