x 
172 THE CONDOR 
Under “Light-mantled Sooty Albatross” 
(Phoebetria palpebrata), Mathews and Ire- 
dale point out that Nichols and Murphy 
slipped up (as had Mathews himself) in us- 
ing the name they did (antarctica Mathews) 
for one of the recognized races, since that 
name already existed in the synonymy otf 
“typical” palpebrata. The former authors 
therefore here (p. 50) propose a new name, 
P. p. murphyi, for “the South Georgian 
form.” This new name is run in in a text 
paragraph, and, as with six other new names 
in the volume under review, it is distin- 
guished in no special way (as by bold-face 
type) so as to prevent its being easily over- 
looked. There is, to be sure, a list (p. 
xxiv) of new names proposed; but this does 
not suffice. A most, reprehensible practise 
here, as in other works by Mathews and 
Iredale, is that of omitting any designation 
of type specimen or of exact type locality. 
Under “Royal Albatross” (Diomedea epo- 
mophora), it is stated (p. 57) that Murphy’s 
“new subgenus’, Rhothonia, based on the 
“new species,’ Diomedea sanford, “is obvi- 
ously a form of the present species, agreeing 
in all details of structure.” If this be true, 
it is a sad case of misunderstood variation. 
Again, Mathews and Iredale remark ‘‘We do 
not understand Murphy’s measurements. ..”’. 
We note (with alarm!) that the Knot of 
America becomes (p. 125) “Calidris canutus 
vufus (Wilson).” It seems that the author- 
ity for the genus name Calidris is ‘‘Anony- 
mous’! Its type (by tautonymy) is (p. 123) 
Tringa calidris=Tringa canutus Linnaeus. 
It takes space precedence over Canutus. 
Hence our A. O. U. Committee, who we had 
hoped settled the case in the Seventeenth 
Supplement, will have to reconsider it. How- 
ever, it must be said of Mathews and Ire- 
dale, in all fairness, that they have pursued 
pomenclatural questions with remarkable 
industry and, seemingly, great care, so as 
to bring their terminology into exact accord 
with the rules of the International Code. 
As the above’ paragraphs intimate, 
Mathews and Iredale are free with criti- 
cisms of authors generally. They appear 
even hypercritical in places, though this im- 
pression may be due to the decided lack of 
criticism which obtains in most other cur- 
rent ornithological literature. When not 
everdone, the critical attitude is stimula- 
tive, and will make for more careful scru- 
tiny of their materials and inferences on 
the part of future workers.—J. GRINNELL, 
California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 
Berkeley, June 19, 1921. 
Vol. XXIII 
MINUTES OF COOPER CLUB MEETINGS 
NORTHERN DIVISION 
JuNE.—The June meeting of the Northern 
Division of the Cooper Ornithological Club 
was held at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoolo- . 
gy on the 23rd at 8 p. mM. In the absence of 
the President and the Vice-President, Mr. 
Joseph Mailliard presided. The following 
were in attendance: Mesdames Allen, Bam- 
ford, Bridges, Burk, Flinn, Griffin, Mead, G. 
T. Roe, Schlesinger, Thomson, Van Gass- 
beek; Messrs. Baker, Farber, Grinnell, Hun- 
gate, Loomis, Mailliard, Miller, and Wheel- 
er; visitors: Mesdames Howard, Hungate, 
Mellon, Thomson, and Wheeler, Mr. Martens 
and Miss Everson. 
The minutes of the May meeting were 
read and approved and May minutes of the 
Southern Division were read. Mr. Robert 
Cunningham Miller, 2406 Fulton St., Berke- 
ley, was proposed for membership by J. 
Grinnell. Mr. Grinnell reported on the 
steps necessary to the establishment of a 
University prize for an essay in Ornitholo- 
gy. Further action in the matter was post- 
poned until the next meeting. 
Mr. Grinnell then gave a resume of his 
eastern trip, touching upon his train cen- 
suses, his problems for investigation in dif- 
ferent museums, his conferences with bird 
students, and the newest methods of investi- 
gation of bird life. 
Adjourned.—AMELIA §. ALLEN, Secretary. 
Aucust.—The regular meeting of the 
Northern Division of the Cooper Ornitho- 
logical Club for July was postponed until 
August 3, in order that it might be held in 
connection with the meetings of the Pacific 
Division, A. A. A. S. The Club convened at 
7:30 p. m. for the transaction of business 
with President Wright in the chair. About 
50 members and visitors were present. 
The minutes of the June meeting were 
read and approved. Dr. Grinnell reported 
on the acceptance of the Cooper Prize in 
Ornithology by the University of California. 
Dr. Evermann made an announcement con- 
cerning all meetings of the Pacific Division. 
The following papers were presented as spe- 
cial program for the evening: 
Joseph Grinnell, The Principle of Rapid 
Peering, in Birds. 
Ralph Hoffmann, First Impressions of 
California Bird Life. 
Barton Warren Evermann, The White 
Pelican Colonies of Anaho Island, Pyramid 
Lake, Nevada; Illustrated with lantern 
slides. . 
Adjourned.—Tracy I. STorerR, Secretary 
pro tem. 
~_. 
