74 



THE CONDOR 



Vol. XIX 



namely, acceptance of data from non-author- 

 itative sources. It goes without saying that 

 the validity of any wide generalization de- 

 pends upon the soundness of the mass of 

 facts upon which such generalization be 

 based. The testimony of casual field ob- 

 servers must be uncompromisingly excluded, 

 until it be known that they are qualified to 

 furnish authentic information. This, we 

 realize, will mean a departure from the 

 custom heretofore prevalent in many coun- 

 tries where data is being assembled on bird 

 migration and distribution. But, in the in- 

 terests of scientific exactitude, some such 

 rule must be followed rigidly, if a high 

 standard of output is to be striven for. 



There can be no doubt that extensive ac- 

 cumulations of statistical data bearing on 

 bird population, and its modifying influ- 

 ences, are greatly worth while. Inferences 

 of wide economic importance are sure to 

 come. And of all the institutions now in ex- 

 istence, only a Government Bureau can be 

 expected to handle an undertaking of such 

 magnitude. Our adverse comments, as 

 above, apply only to a detail of method. — 

 J. Grinnell. 



Conservation of our | wild birds | Meth- 

 ods OF ATTRACTING | AND INCREASING THE 

 NUMBERS OF USEFUL | BIRDS AND THE j ESTAB- 

 LISHMENT OF SANCTUARIES j By | BRADFORD 



A. Scudder | . • . | Issued by the | Massa- 

 chusetts Pish and Game | Protective Asso- 

 ciation | 748 Tremont Building | Boston; 71 

 pp., illustrated. Price 50 cents. Our copy 

 received October 30, 1916. 



During recent years there has been a great 

 deal written on the conservation of wild life, 

 but only a small proportion of the books and 

 papers which have appeared have dealt with 

 the subject in a concrete manner and given 

 definite and usable information. The pres- 

 ent paper is distinctly practical. It de- 

 scribes in an authoritative yet simple man- 

 ner some of the means which can be used 

 in Massachusetts for "attracting and in- 

 creasing the numbers of useful birds". 



Following the brief "Introduction*' in 

 which are set forth the several ways in 

 which birds are useful to man, the causes 

 of their decrease and the means which have 

 been used to conserve them, the following 

 subjects are considered, a chapter being de- 

 voted to each: "Birds that we should encour- 

 age to nest about our country homes", "Nest- 

 ing boxes", "Nesting houses", "Bird baths", 

 "Winter feeding of birds", "Berry and seed 

 bearing trees and shrubs", and "Enemies of 



wild birds". Finally there is a "Bibliogra- 

 phy of works pertaining to birds and the 

 out-of-doors". 



The pamphlet should prove useful to bird 

 lovers in the New England states and has 

 something of value, in suggestions at least, 

 for western students. — Tracy I. Storer. 



MINUTES OF COOPER CLUB MEETINGS 



NORTHERN DIVISION 



November, — The November meeting of the 

 Northern Division was called to order by 

 Vice-president Carriger, at 8 p. m., Novem- 

 ber 16. As the Secretary was late, business 

 was deferred and Dr. Grinnell was intro- 

 duced. He gave a most interesting talk on 

 "Birds and Bird People of San Bernardino". 

 The personel of the new branch of the Coo- 

 per Club, which is being organized in San 

 Bernardino, with their varied interests and 

 abilities, was no less interesting than the 

 account of the birds of the cactus and sage- 

 brush belts of Reche Canyon. No doubt the 

 future work of the branch will command 

 much attention. 



After some discussion of Dr. Grinnell's 

 paper, the business of the evening was dis- 

 patched. The minutes of the October meet- 

 ing of the Northern Division were read and 

 approved, and those of the Southern Divi- 

 sion were read. Mrs. Frances Webster Fish 

 and Mr. Frank J. Steinmetz were elected to 

 membership, and several proposals from the 

 Southern Division were read. 



About thirty members and visitors were 

 present, among whom were Messrs. Grin- 

 nell, Bryant, Carriger, Evermann, Hansen, 

 Swarth, Wright, Cohen, Dixon, Stone, Ray, 

 Heinemann and Kendall; Mesdames Grin- 

 nell, Newhall, Knappen, Ferguson, Swarth, 

 Sweezy, Schlisinger, Parsons, Fish, Allen 

 and Wythe. Miss Ferguson, Mrs. Newhall, 

 Mr. Schlisinger, Mrs. Ray and Mr. Thomas 

 were among the visitors. 



Several items of interest with regard to 

 birds were presented: a Florida Gallinule 

 was reported as wintering in Golden Gate 

 Park, by Mr. Hansen; a Townsend Solitaire 

 has been seen repeatedly on the University 

 Campus by Miss Wythe; a beautiful speci- 

 men of a Snowy Owl just received at the 

 Museum from Del Norte County, California, 

 was exhibited by Mr. Bryant. Instances of 

 nesting Valley Quail becoming very tame, 

 and also of others nesting in trees, were 

 related and discussed. 



The meeting adjourned for informal dis- 

 cussion. — Amelia S. Allen, Secretary. 



