Jan., 1912 
EDITORIAL NOTES AND NEWS 
4,1 
THE CONDOR 
A Magazine of 
^^estern OrnitHology 
PublisKed Bi-Monthly by the 
Cooper Ornithological Club 
J. GRINNELL, Editor, Berkeley, CaLlifornia 
HARRY S. SWARTH, Associa.le Editor 
J. EVGENE LAW 1 „ . 
W. LEE CHAMBERS / Managers 
Hollywood, California: Foblished Jan. 31, 1912 
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EDITORIAL NOTES AND NEWS 
In this issue is printed the new Constitu- 
tion of the Cooper Ornithological Club. 
This is in the form finally adopted by the 
Southern Division, Sept. 28, 1911, and by 
the Northern Division, November 18, 1911. 
It is admittedly regrettable that this 
number of our magazine is so far behind its 
normal date of publication. But the pres- 
ent editors have always acted on the prin- 
ciple that care in make-up is far more es- 
sential than fixed date of appearance. An 
unfortunate accident in the printing office 
has made the hazard in this particular case 
one requiring unusual precautions. 
On November 6, 1911, the appointment 
of Mr. F. S. Daggett as Director of the 
Museum of History, Science and Art, at 
Los Angeles, was confirmed by the Board 
of Governors. The building is finished, 
and Mr. Daggett is now pushing as rapidly 
as possible the preparation and installation 
of the materia! for exhibition. Compre- 
hensive plans have been made regarding 
the development of all three branches of 
the Museum, but readers of The Condor 
will be more particularly interested in the 
details of the zoological department. 
The large collection of fossils amassed by 
the Southern California Academy of Sci- 
ence at the Rancho La Brea is all to be in 
the building, and restorations of most of 
the mammals and many of the birds will 
be made, forming an exhibition probably 
unique. The material includes more or less 
complete skeletons of elephant, mastodon. 
giant ground sloth, bison, llama, camel, 
saber-toothed tiger, lion, wolf, condor, 
eagle, etc. The activities of tlie museum 
will be first directed largeE^ along exhibi- 
tional lines, always with the view of having 
the exhibits as educational as possible. In 
building up a zoological collection it will he 
confined principally to west coast forms, 
in fact mostly to Southern California and 
the contiguous country to the south. Hab- 
itat groups of native mammals and birds 
will be installed as rapidly as the material 
can be collected and prepared. 
Mr. Daggett’s personal collections will 
be deposited in the Museum, amounting to 
8000 birds, 3000 species of Coleoptera, and 
thirt 3 ^-six large drawers of butterflies, as 
well as his ornithological library, compris- 
ing some 1800 volumes and about as many 
pamphlets. Other loan collections, and 
some gifts are promised, including a library 
of about 2000 volumes owned by the 
Academy of Sciences, and an extensive her- 
barium to be installed by Dr. A. Davidson. 
Tlie Museum’s Board of Governors in- 
cludes one member from tlie Southern Di- 
vision of the Cooper Club, Mr. Howard 
Robertson. Tlie Club should know that 
the successful inauguration of tliis Museum 
is in a great measure due to his energy 
and industry, and must accord Mr. Robert- 
son credit for all time as one of the guid- 
ing spirits who made possible the founding 
of the institution. With two COoper Club 
members so activel}^ interested in the 
Museum, Mr. Daggett as its executive head, 
and Air. Robertson as Secretar}^ of the 
Board of Governors, we can feel as- 
sured as to its future development and ex- 
pansion. The Club has also cause for con- 
gratulation in the fact that this new institu- 
tion, bound to develop into one of great 
importance and usefulness, is in a measure 
a direct outgrowth of the activities of the 
Cooper Club. 
PUBLICATIONS REVIEWED 
Miller on Fossil Birds. — California is 
the richest state in the union in point of living 
species represented within its borders, barring 
possibly Texas. It now seems that an added 
distinction is accruing, namely, that in number 
of fossil forms brought to light, this state has 
assumed foremost position. The Department 
of Paleontology of the LTniversity of California 
has come into possession of a large amount of 
material from the now famous Rancho la Brea 
asphalt deposits near Los Angeles; and pre- 
viously extensive and fruitful searches had 
been conducted in certain cave deposits in the 
northern portion of the state. Upon the avian 
remains contained in the material from these 
two sources Loye Holmes Miller has prosecuted 
diligent research. It is our privilege to refer 
to two more papers from his pen announcing 
various new discoveries. (See Condor xiii, 
1911, p. 79) . 
