92 THE CONDOR 
determination of material, but this is the 
fault of individuals and not of the system. 
Also it is true that subspecific designation 
is only a part of ornithology, and not its 
end, but it is a very important part, and 
although current usages are far from per- 
fect, we should be very careful not even 
partially to adopt others that would prove 
less so. 
While I am writing this, I wish strongly 
to protest, though probably in vain, against 
the indoor sport taken up by many quasi- 
ornithologists of condemning, without any 
consideration whatever, every new subspe- 
cies which is described. If, after careful 
comparison of typical material, one who is 
reasonably familiar with his bird decides 
that the form in question is untenable, I 
have nothing to say, for I “live in a glass 
house” and there are many forms which I 
think unwarranted. However, the style now 
seems to be for many who know little about 
birds, to throw up their hands in horror at 
every new thing described, without ever hav- 
ing seen a skin of that form. Even if ma- 
terial has been examined and no differences 
noted, the amateur or semi-amateur must 
remember that, in the first place, his skins 
may be intergrades, and in the second, that 
he may be unable to recognize differences 
which to a trained specialist may be per- 
fectly apparent. And so, even if there ap- 
pear to be entirely adequate grounds for 
objections, one should be careful to keep 
from joining in any of Osgood’s classical 
“dribbling protests.”—A. B. HoweE.Lt, Covina, 
California, December 26, 1918. 
PUBLICATIONS REVIEWED 
THE GAME Brrps or CALirorNiIA | Contri- 
bution from the University of California | 
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology | By | JOSEPH 
GRINNELL | Haro“tp CHILD Bryant | and | 
Tracy Irwin StorER | University of Califor- 
nia Press | Berkeley | 1918. Large 8vo, pp. 
x+642, 16 colored pls., 94 figs. in text, 1 ta- 
ble inserted; issued December 28, 1918. 
Cloth, $6.00, net. 
The need of a work such as this has been 
too real to require further comment after 
the deficiency has been so adequately met. 
The Game Birds of California will win im- 
mediate approval. From the dark blue, gold- 
lettered cover and excellent colored plates 
to the dull surfaced paper and beautiful 
typography it is consistently an admirable 
book. And if this praise of externals seems 
unduly to extoll a less important feature, let 
the reviewer confess himself a lover of at- 
Vol. XXI 
tractive books and remind the reader that in 
good society, science well-dressed is not 
without appreciation, and even praise. 
To one who knows all three authors, they 
seem a very happy combination of crafts- 
men, Certainly the finished product has 
justified Doctor Grinnell’s prefatory state- 
ment—“namely that the highest plane of 
scientific output can be accomplished only ~ 
through cooperative effort. Where 
one author working alone would make mis- 
takes unawares, two, or better, three, are 
able to check one another’s output to ad- 
vantage. The best results, always granting 
mutually sympathetic interest, will follow 
organized cooperative toil.” 
We learn from the introduction that “In 
preparing the present volume the authors 
have attempted to meet the requirements 
of a varied public. The hunter wishes in- 
formation concerning the haunts and the 
habits of our game birds; the naturalist 
wishes to have the completest possible data 
regarding their life histories; the legislator 
who appreciates the necessity of judicious 
game laws wishes to have the facts that are 
relevant to his purpose presented in concise - 
form; and the conservationist desires that 
information which will assist him in his ef- 
forts to perpetuate our bird life for the ulti. 
mate benefit of the greatest number of peo- 
ple. Whether the needs of these various - 
classes have been adequately met in the 
following pages remains to be proved, but it 
may at least be stated here that none of 
them has been overlooked. To each of the 
four categories of persons above mentioned, 
this book is offered as a working manual.” 
It seems to the reviewer that the authors 
have lived up to the task which they set for 
themselves. 
One of the underlying incentives for the 
publication of The Game Birds of Califor- 
nia was found in the decrease of many spe- 
cies of game birds and the seeming indif- 
ference of the public toward instituting ra- 
tional measures to conserve them. The book 
adequately treats of the means to be taken 
to conserve game and makes practical re- 
commendations suited to each species. 
Introductory chapters are devoted to gen- 
eral subjects, as follows: Decrease of Game 
and its Causes; Natural Enemies of Game 
Birds; The Gun Club in. California; History 
of Attempts to Introduce Non-native Game 
Birds; The Propagation of Game Birds; Leg: 
islation Relating to Game Birds in Califor-_ 
nia. The sportsman and nature lover will 
find much of immediate utility in these gen 
eral chapters, . 
