66 



THE CONDOR 



Vol. XIX 



gestion of pale eggs of the crows. In the accompanying photograph (fig. 24) a 

 normal Coot's egg is shown along with the one just described. Careful scrutiny 

 will serve to bring out some of the oddities that have been mentioned. The dif- 

 ference in size and shape between the two is normal and within the range of in- 

 dividual variation. As for the cause of this abnormality, it may be attributed to 

 continued excitement and fear and their reactions through the nervous system 

 upon the ordinary functions of the oviduct. 

 Washington, D. C, January 22, 1917. 



Fig. 24. Normal Egg of Coot at left: 

 Natural Size. 



ABNORMALLY MARKED SPECIMEN AT RIGHT. 



NAMES OF WRITERS ON CALIFORNIA BIRDS 



By T. S. PALMER 



IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHY of California Ornithology 1 , published in 1909. 

 Joseph Grinnell has brought together nearly 1800 titles of publications on 

 the birds of California and has indexed them under authors, local lists, and 

 species, so as to facilitate ready reference to each paper or note. This Biblio- 

 graphy compares favorably in accuracy and completeness with any ever pub- 

 lished in this country. 



The Index to Authors includes the names of about 350 individuals. More 

 than two thirds of these names are complete, but in 107 cases it was found im- 

 practicable to give the names in full. It seems highly desirable to complete 

 these names while it is still possible to obtain the necessary data, in order that 



Pacific Coast Avifauna, No. 5, pp. 1-166. 



