Mar. , 1919 
EDITORIAL NOTES AND NEWS 
We are not infrequently asked why TuE 
Conpor is not printed on a highly surfaced 
quality of paper such as will give a greater 
brilliancy of contrast and more detail in the 
photographic illustrations. There are two 
reasons why we adopted the present dull- 
finish, uncoated paper. Durability was the 
first consideration. The distant future 
should be considered in that our magazine 
is a repository of recorded facts which we 
want to be available in libraries 200, 500, 
years hence; and the lasting qualities of 
surfaced paper are very much in doubt. 
Just dampen a copy of THE Conpor, indeed 
soak it over night, and do the same with a 
glossy-papered periodical, then dry them 
both, and compare results! Furthermore, 
and an immediate concern, as it happens, of 
those of us who have to do a great deal of 
close reading, the eyestrain is very much 
more trying on the reader in the case of 
glossy paper than with a dull surfaced stock. 
The Editor admits that he now rarely under- 
takes to read any publication in which sur- 
faced paper is used—simply because of the 
personal, physical factor of eyestrain. On 
the whole, and lacking the resources for 
running separate ‘plates’, we decided in fa- 
vor of the present paper. Even so, did not 
our printer get admirable results with the 
halftones in the January Connor? Is there 
not something appealing as well as restful 
about those gray-toned Solitaire pictures? 
From the very beginning of our interest in 
the names of birds we have been accustomed 
to use the generic name Falco, and this name 
has come to attach itself conveniently and 
with apparent scientific exactness to our 
ideas of the relationships of the raptorial 
birds. Now comes a school of genus split- 
ters which is attempting to get the ornitho- © 
logical public. to accept generic refinements 
which provide us with the name Hierofalco 
mexicanus for the Prairie Falcon, Rhyncho- 
don peregrinus for the Duck Hawk, Tinnun- 
culus columbarius for the Pigeon Hawk. and 
Cerchneis sparveria for the Sparrow Hawk. 
This is merely one instance in illustration of 
the tendency of the times in certain taxo- 
nomic circles. We have thought about the 
matter a great deal, and we have read the 
current literature relevant to these specific 
cases. We hereby challenge somebody or 
anybody to advance adequate grounds, either 
profoundly scientific or utilitarian, in justi- 
fication of such ultra generic splitting! It 
is apparently the line of least resistance, 
when group relationships are in question, 
to subdivide, rather than unite; and hence 
the tendency. What we need is the higher 
plane of ornithological scholarship which 
will go at the expression of likenesses as 
need not suffer from devpredations. 
EDITORIAL NOTES AND NEWS 89 
well as differences between groups of spe- 
cies with a view to most exactly representing 
genetic relationships. Meanwhile, it seems 
to us that the general use of these question- 
able generic names had better be avoided, in 
the interests of uniformity and of clarity of 
understanding. 
Many accounts of the damage done to rice 
by ducks have recently appeared in the news- 
papers, but gross exaggeration is manifest 
in the majority of these. Furthermore, the 
attitude taken by many sportsmen in their 
attempts to vindicate the birds has done 
more harm than good. The real facts in 
the case are now before the United States 
Department of Agriculture, as a result of 
the investigation by Mr. Alexander Wetmore, 
he having spent two months the past autumn 
in the four counties of California which lie 
in the Sacramento Valley, where large quan- 
tities of rice are grown. Dr. H. C. Bryant, 
Game Expert for the California Fish and 
Game Commission, has also been on the 
ground. The reports of these two men have 
shown that ducks do destroy rice after it has 
matured and also after it has been cut and 
is in the shock. The duck responsible for 
the damage is the Pintail. Although the 
ducks will not drop down into a thick stand 
of rice, they will seek out thin rice or places 
where there is oven water. From such places 
they work out into the good rice, stripping 
the erains from the head and doing serious 
damage. Bombs have proved to be an eco- 
nomiecal means of driving ducks from rice 
fields. A few bombs proverly handled will 
drive the hirds from a large area and the 
hirds are so frightened that thev rarelv re- 
tvurn to the same nilace the following night. 
The rice grower who studies the situation 
and decides that he will outwit the birds 
The 
grower who savs much and does little is the 
one who loses most. The United States De- 
nartment of Avcriculture has taken proper 
steng to vive the rancher a fair chance to 
nrotect his crops. 
MILITARY SERVICE RECORD 
This list contains all the names which 
have come to the attention of THE CONDOR 
staff. The dates in parentheses indicate 
when the last word was received; in most 
cases this came direct from the one named 
or from a near relative. A few names with 
data have been taken from the last Auk, in 
which cases it is so neted. So far, no word 
has come of any casualty to a Cooper Club 
member. 
ANDERSON, Ernest M., Private, Co. A, Royal 
Canadian Regiment, B. C. Special Ser- 
