192 THE CONDOR 
as an initial step in the compilation. The 
results give evidence of the highest plane 
of accuracy. McGregor has thereby won an 
enviable reputation for achievement in the 
field of avian taxonomy. 
In a review published in the ‘Transac- 
tions of the North Staffordshire Field Club” 
(vol. lii, 1917-18, p. 97), our British confrere, 
Mr. F. C. R. Jourdain, makes some timely 
comments on the standards that should be 
demanded in modern ornithological work. 
Compilers of local reports may well take 
these remarks to heart: “Ornithology must 
necessarily be a progressive science and 
what was deemed satisfactory half a cen- 
tury ago ought not to satisfy the student 
of today. A far higher standard of accu- 
racy and precision is demanded from the 
recorder of the present day than in time 
past, and the bald and unconvincing state- 
ments, often entirely lacking in detail, which 
fill the pages of the older writers are now 
quite out of place. A county recorder must 
also be capable of discriminating between 
dubious and unreliable material and depend- 
able observations, and should allow no per- 
sonal considerations to influence him in ac- 
cepting or rejecting records.” 
Northern Division members, and others 
likely to visit the San Francisco Bay re- 
gion, should take note that the meetings of 
that Division are now scheduled for the 
fourth Thursday evening of each month. See 
announcement on inside back cover of this 
issue. 
If a fair degree of prosperity has been 
yours this year, share it with the Cooper 
Club. Make a substantial contribution to 
our Endowment Fund. Become a benefactor 
in ornithology. 
Collectors should bear in mind that for 
many reasons the autumn season is the most 
favorable time of the year for securing spe- 
cimens. Plumages are then complete and 
unworn and they present their colors with 
intrinsic tones unfaded. Then, too, there is 
no danger of breaking up families, as during 
the spring months. Remember that ade- 
quate value, scientifically, is to be secured 
from a dead bird, only by recording, in addi- 
tion to the usual data, its weight, its age (as 
determined from the condition of the skull), 
and the colors of the soft parts (by com- 
parison with Ridgway’s Color Standards). 
MINUTES OF COOPER CLUB MEETINGS 
NORTHERN DIVISION 
JuLy.—The regular meeting of the North- 
ern Division of the Cooper Ornithological 
Club was held at the Museum of Vertebrate 
Zoology the evening of July 15. In the ab- 
sence of the president and the vice-president, 
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Vol. XXII 
Mr. Storer presided. Those present were: 
Members: Mesdames Abernathy, Allen, Hen- 
dren, Lander, McLellan, Mead, Schlesinger, 
and Thomson. Messrs. Bell, Carriger, Da- 
vies, Evermann, Storer, and Swarth. Visit- 
ors: Mesdames Lueddemann, -Swarth, and 
Thomson; the Misses Barron, Bennet, Cow- 
an, Jefferson, Lander, Lane, Latta, Living- 
stone, MacMillan, McCardle, Potter, Vaugh- 
an, and White. Also Messrs. Abell, Bean, 
and Master George S. Swarth. 
The minutes of the June meeting were 
read and approved. Mr. A. C. Maxson, Mr. 
Roy B. Lyon, Mr. E. S. Cheney, and Mr. L. 
A. Elmore were elected members of the 
club. One name was proposed: Mr. R. Bruce 
Overington, 220 Golden Gate Ave., San Fran- 
cisco, by J. Grinnell. There was also a 
recommendation filed, signed by four mem- 
bers, that Mrs. Florence Merriam Bailey be 
elected to Honorary membership in the Club. 
Informal reports included those of two ad- 
ditional nests of the Western Robin found in 
the Bay region, one in Golden Gate Park, 
and one on the Berkeley Campus; also a re- 
port of crossbills feeding on aphides at Se- 
attle. A report of the June Seattle meeting 
in connection with the meetings of the Paci- 
fic Division of the American Association for 
the Advancement of Science was given by 
Dr. Evermann. The program for the even- 
ing consisted of a talk by Mr. Carl Abell 
on “Color Engraving as Applied to Bird Pic- 
tures,” using as an example of the compli- 
cated process the four color plates used in 
printing a group of Fox Sparrows as paint- 
ed by Allan Brooks. 
A motion presented by Dr. Evermann pro- 
vided that the chair should appoint a com- 
mittee of three to cooperate with the Audu- 
bon Association of the Pacific in an effort 
to bring about the repeal of the Alaska Bald 
Eagle Bounty Law. The motion was Car- 
ried, the committee to be instructed to in- 
vestigate also the movement to commercial- 
ize the waters of the Yellowstone. (The 
committee as appointed later consists of Dr. 
Evermann, Mr. Storer, and Mr. Lastreto.) 
Adjourned.—AmMEeEtia S. ALLEN, Secretary. 
August.—The regular meeting of the 
Northern Division was held at the Museum 
of Vertebrate Zoology, August 19, at 8 P. M. 
President Wright called the meeting to or- 
der. Those in attendance were: Members: 
Mesdames Allen, Bridges, Davidson, Griffin, 
Grinnell, Mead, Neugass, Parsons, Roe, 
Thomson, and Wythe; Messrs. Bell, Carriger, 
Cooper, Davies, Dawson, Gignoux, Grinnell, ! 
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