174 THE CONDOR 
this is the first breeding record for this species in New Mexico with the exception of the 
one noted by Mr. Ligon below. 
The Red-headed Woodpecker has been observed in New Mexico apparently with in- 
I find in my records the following notes on the occur- 
creasing frequency since 1915. 
rence of this species: 
Vol. XXI_ 
1 adult bird, Albuquerque, June 7 and 8, 1915, 
1 adult, Roswell, Feb. 12, 1916. 
1 adult, 4 miles north of Albuquerque, Aug. 18, 1918. 
1 adult, 
in same locality as the nest above described, May 25, 1919. " 
Mr. J. S. Ligon, of the U. 8. Biological Survey, supplies the following notes from 
his records: 
July, 1915, nesting at Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. 
Sept. 9, 1916, 1 adult, South Spring River, Roswell, New Mexico. . 
Sept. 4, 1917, 1 adult, Los Lunas, New Mexico. 
Aug. 28, 5 adults observed between LaJoya and Isleta, on the Rio Grande, New 
Mexico. 
May 27, 
1919, 1 adult, at White Tail, Sacramento Mts., New Mexico. 
In a previous issue of THE Conpor, I have advanced the theory that the Red-headed 
Woodpecker is invading New Mexico by way of the telephone poles along the transconti- 
nental railway lines. 
In support of this theory it is interesting to note that all the ob- 
servations listed above were on or near railway lines.—ALpo LEoPoLp, Albuquerque, New 
Mexico, June 17, 1919. 
EDITORIAL NOTES AND NEWS 
The Second Ten Year Index to The Condor 
will probably be off the press by the time 
this issue of THr Conpbor reaches our read- 
ers. No pains have been spared by its com- 
piler, Mr. J. R. Pemberton, to make this in- 
dex serviceable in every feasible way. The 
user will not only be able to find his way to 
the extensive literature contained in vol- 
umes xI to xx by species (under all the dif- 
ferent names employed for each), but wili 
also be guided on the basis of subject mat- 
ter, geography, and authors. Needless to 
say every Conpor subscriber and Cooper 
Club member should possess himself at once 
of a copy of this Index (Avifauna No. 13). 
Applications should be made to the Club 
business manager, W. LEE CPS MB ERS Eagle 
Rock, California. 
About the most thoroughly satisfying 
book we have yet seen on the birds of any 
one country is the work now appearing from 
the press of Witherby & Co., 326 High Hol. 
born, London, entitled “A Practical Hand- 
book of British Birds.” No less than six ex- 
perienced students of British birds are col- 
laborating in the production of the work, 
each attending to some special portion of 
the matter relating to each species. Dr. 
Ernst Hartert is handling the nomenclature 
and keys; Mr. H. F. Witherby furnishes 
part of the descriptions and diagnoses, and 
Miss Annie C. Jackson, part; the field char- 
acters are drawn up for the most part by 
Mr. C. Oldham; Mr. Norman F. Ticehurst 
traces the migrations of the birds; and the 
Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain deals with their food 
and breeding habits. Here is a demonstra- 
tion of the higher plane of output which is © 
bound to be reached through organized co- 
operative effort. The three parts of the 
work which have so far appeared, compris- 
ing over two hundred pages and several ex- 
cellent plates, respond to our scrutiny as 
well-nigh ideal, as regards both method of 
treatment and content. Of course our Brit- 
ish friends have many more years of ornith- 
ological history to draw from, as well as 
the records of many more observers, than 
we of western North America have. Any 
approach to the completeness shown by their 
work would as yet be impossible here. Many, ~ 
Many years of conscientious gathering and 
recording of facts yet remain to be done be- 
fore west-Americans can hope to put through ~ 
so complete a “practical handbook” of our — 
birds. j. 
Dr. Witmer Stone, Curator of the Phila- 
delphia Academy and Editor of The Awk, © 
hua Mountains, southeastern Arizona. ' 
any as well as Ornithology received his at: 
tention, though we have an idea the main 
object of the trip was a thorough rest; for 
Dr. Stone is a prodigious worker and has 
but rarely allowed himself a vacation. Mi 
Stone “came along too’; and Mr. and Mrs. 
J. Eugene Law are of the party. Mr. Alex- 
