July, 1920 FROM FIELD AND STUDY 161 
nest-building material and flew with this to a neighboring clump of pine trees. I went 
with her the next day to the spot, but saw neither the birds nor any evidence of a nest, 
which, however, does not in any way cast aspersion upon her word. While the bird may 
not have been actually building, the instinct may have been strong and the nesting sea- 
son was at hand. 
As late as the last week in April the Nutcrackers were still in Carmel and Pacific 
Grove, as reported to me by Mr. F. C. Holman, a member of the C, O. C., and with 
whom I was collecting during this stay. Dr. Fisher thought they might possibly change 
their habits and nest somewhere in the vicinity, and promised to watch them as far as 
lay in his power. 
It was my good fortune during the fortnight spent in Carmel to come across two 
specimens of the Slate-colored Junco (Junco hyemalis hyemalis) to add to the compara- 
tively few records for this state. One of these was taken at Carmel on March 12, and the 
other in Pine Canyon, near Salinas, Monterey County, on March 19.—JosrepH MAILLIARD, 
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, May 6, 1920. 
Western Tanager in Santa Cruz Mountains in Summer.—While on a visit at Alma, 
Santa Clara County, California, from June 16 to 23, 1917, I heard and saw a number of 
Western Tanagers (Piranga ludoviciana). From perches well up in the coniferous trees 
the males were droning out their monotonous songs, and to all appearances the species 
was established for the summer.—Tracy I. Srorer, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berke- 
ley, California, May 14, 1920. 
EDITORIAL NOTES AND NEWS 
Perhaps the most important ornithological 
happening announced in recent months is 
the resumption of activity on the part of the 
American Ornithologists’ Union Committee 
on Nomenclature. According to the April 
Auk a two-day meeting was held in Wash- 
ington, D. C., in February. As lately recon- 
stituted the committee consists of Witmer 
Stone, Jonathan Dwight, H. C. Oberholser, 
T. S. Palmer, and Charles W. Richmond. It 
seems to us that this is a well-balanced rep- 
resentation of our ornithologists, as regards 
the varying views entertained currently in 
systematic ornithology. Probably no one 
guestion is more pressing than that of the 
constitution of the genus. In this connec- 
tion we wish to call attention to the valu- 
able article by the Chairman of the com- 
mittee, Dr. Stone, in Science (vol. LI, April 
30, 1920), entitled “The Use and Abuse of 
the Genus’. This article sets forth pre- 
cisely the dangers which threaten as a re- 
sult of unlimited splitting, and, in our mind, 
makes the sanest sort of recommendations 
as to the course of action which should be 
followed henceforth by working system- 
atists. It is fortunate that a man of Dr. 
Stone’s views is at the head of the commit- 
tee which will determine the names em- 
ployed in the next official check-list of 
North American birds. 
. Mr. C. M. Goethe, of the California Nature 
Study League, Sacramento, gives a good 
pointer for bird students. He writes under 
date of June 2: Again I have been impressed 
with the advantages of the sleeping bag in 
bird study. On a trip last week-end into 
Cache Creek Canyon, Yolo County, dawn 
brought several thrilling experiences scarce- 
ly to be obtained otherwise. Quail with 
their young came almost within arm’s 
reach. An oriole sang from a perch in a 
redbud immediately above the sleeping bag. 
Titmouses, flycatchers and grosbeaks were 
watched at similarly close range. 
Dr. Edward W. Nelson, Chief of the Bureau 
of Biological Survey, is spending the sum- 
mer in northwestern Alaska, where he is 
looking after the reindeer problem which 
was assigned to the Survey for attention. 
Dr. Nelson, it will be recalled, spent four 
years, 1877-1881, in Alaska, chiefly in the 
vicinity of Saint Michael. His report upon 
the birds observed by him during that period 
remains the most important ornithological 
publication ever issued relative to Alaska. 
Miss Ellen Scripps, of La Jolla, California, 
is giving the San Diego Society of Natural 
History two thousand dollars per month, to 
be continued for two years, to enable the 
Society to move into larger quarters and to 
