pline of business life had been relaxed and his affairs composed, then, instead of the rest, the leisure, 

 the reveling in birds' eggs, of which he was passionately fond, came — the end. Oh, it was no 

 fault of his. And we, perhaps, should do no better, nor even otherwise; but is it not a pity and 

 an infinite reproach — not to the individual, but to the race — that human life cannot be so com- 

 posed that its energies shall be released and put into fullest play along the lines of its innermost 

 choices? We do not judge the individual. He did splendidly well, as a husband, as a father, 

 as a citizen, as a business man. Perhaps he did do the very things he preferred. But also what 

 a splendid oologist he might have made! 



We have not heard what is to become of the. Childs Collections. There is a rumor that they 

 are involved with a comparatively new institution of small standing. We do not know, and we 

 will not profess our institutional curiosity. We may, however, with propriety venture two or 

 three suggestions. The egg collections left by Mr. Childs are important enough so that they 

 ought by all means to be kept together. They should be placed in competent hands, as a public 

 trust, rather than buried in another private collection. It would be especially fitting if Mr. 

 Childs' love of California and his interest in western ornithology should be memorialized by a 

 gift of library and egg collections to some western institution, or placed in the custody of the 

 Cooper Ornithological Club, say, in Los Angeles. 



Mr. Kenneth L. Skinner is to be congratulated upon the promising appearance of his new 

 magazine "The Oologists' Record." Vol. 1, No. 1, issued March 1, 1921, contains 24 pages, 

 besides cover, and its contents consist entirely of three carefully annotated lists of breeding birds, 

 in East Africa, "The Western Front," and Palestine. We are pleased to note that two of these 

 articles are by Members of the M. C. O., viz., Hon. C. F. Belcher, now of Zomba, Nyasaland, and 

 Captain C. R. S. Pitman, of Nakuru, Kenya Colony, East Africa. 'The Oologists' Record" is a 

 natural outgrowth of a little exchange sheet called "The Oologists' Exchange and Mart," 

 which seemed to meet a well-defined need. This exchange medium is now continued as an insert 

 for subscribers only, and is chock-full of chatty news and advertisements. We predict for Mr. 

 Skinner an assured welcome and a field of increasing usefulness. 



This issue is late. We know it. "We are not what we would be but what we must," some 

 pessimist once groaned ; and for once and only once the editorial staff agrees. We can only remind 

 our friends that we didn't promise much, and cannot until "The Birds of California" has appeared. 

 Just at present the editor is under contract to devote his entire time to MS revision and to half- 

 tone designing for the magnum opus: and the task of seeing this Journal off press devolves upon 

 his son, William Oberlin Dawson— who blushes his acknowledgements. 



The most casual eye will note the dominant theme of this issue of the Journal. We have had 

 Protectionism fresh, protectionism roasted, protectionism boiled, fricasseed and salted. Some 

 remains will doubtless find their way into Monday's hash and Tuesday's soup. We make no 

 promises, but we do express sincere regrets that much important matter, beside oological news 

 and chit-chat not a little, has been crowded out or pushed forward into the next issue. 



Among the matters deferred are some of such urgency that we shall have to address an after- 

 season Newsletter, or Journal Supplement, to the Members of the M. C. O. This will concern 

 itself with reports of Museum contributions, member addresses, draft of bylaws, and kindred 

 themes, of interest only to members. 



The Next Regular Issue of the Journal will be largely devoted to illustration and comment 

 upon museum material sent in by members. It is natural and fair that the M. C. O. should en- 

 deavor to show its clientele what disposition is being made of their contributions. We have, for 

 example, recently completed another drawer of Australian nests which we think is a dream. In 

 this public presentation, however, no mention will be made of the personal sources from which 

 the material exhibited has been derived. This will impose a real hardship upon the museum 

 management, for we should be glad to publish our gratitude from the housetop. The concensus 

 of opinion, however, appears to favor the restriction of laudatory comment to strictly member 

 circles; and we bow our acquiescence. After all, the commendation of our peers is that which 

 yields the greatest satisfaction ii any line of endeavor. 



NOTABLE OCCURRENCES AT SANTA BARBARA 



Supplied by members of the Santa Barbara Bird Club (Local Members of the M. C. O.) 



Sterna caspia. Caspian Tern. Sandyland, May 3, 1920. Dawson and club. 



Fulmarus glacialis glupischa. Pacific Fulmar. Oct. 30, 1920. Bird flew over Stearns' 

 Wharf and loitered about for some minutes. Dawson. 



Herodias egretta. American Egret. Four birds made headquarters of the Beal Estero on 

 llic borders of town from November to January (Nov. 27 and Dec. 24, 1920, and Jan. 14, 1921). 

 Dawson and club. 



Butorides virescens anthonyi. Anthony Green Heron. At least one bird remained on or 

 near the Beal Estero throughout the winter of 1920-21. Miss Walker and club. 



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