8 
THE CONDOR 
I VOL. V 
The Ornithological Writings of Chester Barlow. 
BY JOSEPH GRINNELE. 
D uring the even decade of Chester Barlow’s activity along literary lines 
more than fifty articles appeared to his credit, besides recently numerous 
editorials and short notes. His first article that I have found came to print 
in August, 1902, in Eattin’s Oologist where so many of us younger bird-students re- 
ceived our first inspiration to “write up’’ what we had learned. This first article of 
Barlow’s was on the nesting of the ashy petrel on the Farallone Islands. He had 
visited these fascinating bird-islands and his discoveries there served also for several 
subsequent papers of remarkable interest to their younger readers, who longed to get 
to the oologist’ s paradise that was so vividly depicted. 
In 1893, within a few months after the founding of the Cooper Ornithological 
Club, its Secretary’s Reports began to appear regularly in Taylor’s Nidiologist. 
These reports were compiled largely from papers pre.sented at the meetings. Here 
Barlow’s good judgment and literarj^ talent came into play in culling out and com- 
piling from the heterogeneous and often poorly-composed manuscripts those accounts 
we still find so full of interest. These “Secretary’s Reports” continued for nearly 
four years, and are yet of high value for reference in regard to the life-histories of 
many western birds. 
During this period many signed articles also appeared dealing with bird-life in 
Santa Clara county. Here we find valuable articles on the nesting of the white-tailed 
kite and golden eagle. Then came the summer- vacation trips to the Sierra Nevada, 
and the delightful articles relating to its bird-life, not only pleasing, but of permanent 
value to science — important additions to the known histories of such birds as the 
hermit warbler, Calaveras warbler, olive-sided flj'catcher and Cassin Vireo. 
With the inauguration of the Bulletin of the Cooper Ornithological Club in Jan- 
uarv, 1899, Barlow’s really most important service to ornithology began, though his 
own signed articles became fewer. We probably never can sufficiently realize the 
great influence Barlow exerted in “bringing out” previously unknown observers — 
urging them to contribute from their own stock of knowledge, and thus instilling 
that enthusiasm which when once well started may in time lead into the genius of a 
Coues. Barlow is not considered by some to have been a scientific ornithologist. 
He never wrote an article which was not intended for the merest beginner to read 
and enjoy. Bv:t I believe his career to have had a much more far-reaching influence 
on scientific ornithology than if he had entered, and confined his entire energj’ to, 
systematic or philosophic fields. 
1892. The Ashv Petrel {Oceanodroma hotnoc/iroa) on the Farallones. — Oologist IX, Aug- 
ust 1892, pp. 193-194- 
1892. Professional Egging; or the Collecting of Murre’s Eggs in California. — Oologist IX, 
December 1892, pp. 255-257. 
1893. A Day with the Creek Birds. — Am. Mag. of Natural Science I, May 1893, pp. 77-78. 
1893. The White-tailed Kite and Prairie Falcon in California. — Oologist X, September 
1893, pp. 258-260. 
1893. Nesting of the Mallard Duck [near San Jose]. — Nidiologist I, November 1893, p. 38, 
2 hftt. 
1893. The Pileolated and Yellow Warblers [nesting in Santa Clara County]. — Nidiologist 
I, November 1893, pp. 44 - 45 - 
1893. Nesting Habits of the Brandt’s, Baird’s and Farallone Cormorants. — Am. Mag. of 
Nat. Science II, November 1893, pp. 53 - 54 - 
1893. Cooper Ornithological Club. [Secretary’s Report, including notes on Dutescent War- 
bler, etc.] — Nidiologist I, December 1893, pp. 60-61. 
1894. Collecting on the Farallone Islands. — Naturalist I, January 1894, pj). 7-8. 
