Mar., 1901 
THE CONDOR 
49 
that was causing so much trouble. The Limbless Lizard, as its name implies, is 
destitute of legs. It lives from a few inches to several feet under the earth 
(usually in sandy soil) and is found most frequently in the vicinity of the small 
bushes of Liipimis arboreus. It has never been observed above soil, and if the 
shrike has learned to dig the creatures out, then the shrike is possessed of much 
patience, and the lizards have a formidable enemy. I have often wondered what 
animals prey upon them. Nothing is known of their life history. 
Mr. Wm. L. Atkinson, in The Condor III, page ii, suggests that Lanins 
Indovicianus gambeli does not return to eat impaled food after having once left it. 
I was of this opinion till last summer (Aug. 8, 1900,) when I noted something to 
the contrary in Sierra Valley, Cal., (near the town of Vinton, Plumas Co.) The 
bird in question was, however, Lanins Indoviciajins execnbitorides. I copj^ essen- 
tially what I wrote at the time. “While setting some mammal traps this afternoon 
I was surprised to see a Lanins fly into a sage-brush bush only a few feet from me. It 
hunted about for a moment till it found an impaled gra.sshopper, which was first 
carefully tasted and then quickly bolted. The shrike then flew away, but return- 
ed at once and ‘tasted’ the little twig upon which the grasshopper had been im- 
paled. This it did twice, then whet its its beak vigorously and flew to the top- 
most twig of the bush, fluffing itself into a round ball. 
W.\LTER K. Fisher, Stanford UnivD, Cal. 
On the Generic Name of the Californian 
Condor. 
Readers of The Condor may be in- 
terested to learn that as early as 1842 
the Californian bird was separated 
generically from the . South American 
species. In that year Lesson began an 
“Index Ornithologique” which appear- 
ed in numerous in.stalhnents in a 
Parisian journal, L' Echo du nionde 
savant and in the initial part of this 
“Index” he distinguished the Califor- 
nian Condor under the name Gyninogyps, 
which name, owing to the rarity of the 
journal in which it appeared, has been 
buried for over half a century. 
Gvninogyps, having many years 
priority over 'Pseudogryphns, will be- 
come the proper generic term for 
Vnlt2ir cali fo)-nianns Shaw , the reference 
being, Gynuio'gyps Lesson, L' Echo dn 
monde savant, ser 2, VL no. 44, Dec. 8, 
1842, col. 1037. This “Echo” was is- 
sued about three times a week from 
1834-1846, and contains many new 
generic and specific names of birds. I 
have been able to consult only part of 
the series (1838-1843) and would be 
agreeably surprised to see the remain- 
der. Any one who may wish to sur- 
prise me should send a copy to the 
National Museum, Washington, 1). C. 
Ch.^rles W. Richmond. 
W ® W ' ' “ 
We regret being compelled to crowd out the 
January and March minutes of the Northern 
Division which will appear in May. However 
Club members may be informed of some re- 
cent actions: — the Club’s Bird Bill has been 
passed by the Senate and has every prospect 
of passing the .\ssembly; the Club expects to 
incorporate at once and members may guage 
its prosj)erit3- l)y the fact that 21 new memlrers ^ 
were elected on March 2. ’ ' ' 
# ® ® 
Mr. Joseph (trinnell, we hear, is to give a 
course in general ornithology the coming sum- 
mer at the Hopkins Seaside Laboratory. This 
course conducted under the auspices' of .Stan- 
ford University, will aim to present the classi- 
fication, characteristic anatomy, and habits of 
birds, particular attention being paid to those 
about Monterey Bay. 
We note with much pleasure that The Osprey 
has commenced the Biographies of American 
Birds projected two years ago by Dr. Gill. 
Our joy is tinged with sadne.ss, however, when 
we reflect that The Osprey can not complete, 
with justice to the subject, more than six bio- 
graphies a year, and hence the series not be- 
fore D. 2030! 
