84 THE WEST AMEEICAN SCIENTIST. 



EDITORIAL. 



Numbers one and two of tliis journal are wanted; ten cents each will be paid 

 for them. 



We acknowledge an invitation to the sanitary convention to be held at Big 

 Kapids; Mich., under the auspices of the state board of health, November 18 and 

 19, 1886. The objects of the convention are the piesentation of facts, and the dis- 

 cussion of methods relating to the prevention of sickness an d deaths and the im- 

 provements of the conditions of living. 



Well! Orders for a few thousand plants, and quantifies of seeds, rendered it 

 necessary for the editor to visit the mountain and desert regions of this county. 

 What with the large correspondence requiring prompt attention, and other matters 

 of importance, little time has been found for scientific studies or editorial labors. 

 As we were already behind time with the Scientist, it was consi'lered best to omit 

 an August issue that we might catch up with the work. As the editor has become 

 relieved of the business management of the journal, more time can be devoted to it 

 in the fature, and we trust that it will not again be necessary to skip any month. 

 Subscribers will receive twelve numbers for a year's subscription and no number 

 will count more than one. 



Mr. John B. Hyde, of San Telmo, Lower California, a son of the well known 

 Judge Hyde of San Francisco, is authority for the account given in this journal 

 (ii, p 49) of road-runners corralling rattlesnakes. He gave the full particulars to 

 Mr. Ira J. Gray and the editor, informing them that he was one of the eye-witnesses 

 to the whole remarkable performance of the bird. Capt. S. Haley, of Los Angeles, 

 says he has also personally observed the trail-runners (as they are better known to 

 old Calif ornians) to destroy rattlesnakes in a similar manner, building the corral 

 however while the reptile was asleep. Any others who may have been so fortunate 

 as to observe this curious performance of the road-runner are invited to give their 

 experience. 



We are pleased to note, that, with the rapid development of South California 

 and the consequent increase in wealth and population, that science keeps a steady 

 pace as well. The society of natural history at this place is showing promising 

 signs of life and has been placed upon a much more permanent footing with the 

 institutions of the city by the donation to them of a valuable lot. As another indi- 

 cation of the advance of science, we are proxid to record here the fact of our sub- 

 scription list having more than doubled in the last few months. Probably no jour- 

 nal has met with a more favorable reception than the West American Scientist 

 among an intelligent class, both at home and abroad, — in fact wherever the 

 paper is known. Learned societies of Europe and America and numerous and i 

 prominent journals send us invitations to exchange — a sure index to the reputation 

 it is gaining — and new subscriptions continue to come from different parts of the 

 country. They are all welcome, and contributions to our pages from any quarter 

 will be also. 



