io8 
THE CONDOR 
I Vol. HI 
THE CONDOR. 
Bulletin of the 
Cooper Ornithologicai. Club 
OF CAI^IFORNIA. 
Published bi-iuonthly at Santa Clara, Cal., in the interests 
and as Ofificial Organ of the Club. 
CHESTER BARI.OW, - - Santa Clara, al.. 
Editor and Business Manager. 
WALTER K. FISHER. Stanford University Cal. 
HfiWARD ROBETRSON, Box 55, Sta. A., Los Angeles. 
-Associates. 
Subscription, (in advance) - - One Hollar a Year. 
Single Copies, 25 Cents. 
Six Copies or more of one issue, - 12(4 Cents Each. 
Foreign Subscription, ------ $1.25. 
Free to Honorary Members and to -Active Members not 
in arrears for dues. 
-Advertising rates will be sent on application. 
Advertisements and subscriptions should be sent to the 
Business Managers. 
Exchanges should be sent to the Editor-in -Chief. 
Entered at the Santa Clara Post-office as second class 
matter. 
This issue of The Condor was mailed July 15. 
EDITORIAL NOTES. 
The Tenth Supplement to the A. O. U. 
Check-List appears in the July Auk and orni- 
thologists may again breathe freely, including 
also the describers of new subspecies, wdio.se 
feathered idols have been relegated to that 
bourne whence they seldom return. But seri- 
ously speaking, the supplement contains nu- 
merous changes in nomenclature and a goodl}' 
array of new species and subspecies finds 
place upon the list. The list of n on-accepted 
species and subspecies is surprisingly large, 
but one must feel it impossible to comprehend 
upon which certain characters one subspecies 
is accepted and another rejected. We note 
surprising action in the case of Pipilo fuscus 
carolcp McGregor, described in The Condor 
(I, 1890, p. II). Mr. McGregor subsequent!}' 
pointed out that the type was a bird in freshly- 
acquired fall plumage, and that the alleged 
race should be relegated to synonymy [Fac. 
Coast Avifauna, iqoi, p. 15), but instead has 
occurred the unfortunate action of giving the 
subspecies a place on the check-list. It is not, 
therefore, surprising that the lay ornitholo- 
gist should marvel at the mysteries of our 
check-list. 
An editorial in The Osprey for May com- 
ments upon the inaptness of the use of bird 
names as titles of magazines devoted to orni- 
thology. This is a conclusion which every 
thinking person must have evolved who has 
endeavored to solve the relationship of Plautus 
Jmpennis, of Botaurus leJitiginosus—Xvd.Cxtw^ 
of the marsh — or of our western Gyninogyps 
— proud and majestic though he may be — to 
the various magazines bearing these birds’ 
common and more euphonious cognomens. 
The association of any of these names with 
the magazines bearing them suggests nothing, 
and this being an age of progression, we shall 
expect to see our contemporary adopt its own 
sensible advice and head the reform move- 
ment. The editorial in question suggests such 
titles as The Wilsonia, The Audubonia , etc., 
as being properly applicable to the American 
bird magazine. 
We had expected to present several half- 
tones of interesting Galapagos bird subjects 
in this issue, but the lateness of arrival of the 
expedition and consequent delay in develop- 
ing the numerous negatives secured, precludes 
the appearance of the anticipated cuts until 
our September issue. Messrs. Beck and 
Adams will also contribute articles to The 
Condor touching on the Galapagos fauna and 
their visit to that interesting spot, — Guadalupe 
Island. 
We bow a gracious acknowledgment to 
Lieut. Jno. W. Daniel Jr., who recently at- 
tested his faith in The Condor by enclosing 
a $5 bill, covering the current volume and 
four years’ advance subscription. 
® W W 
SAVE THE BIRDS’ STOMACHS. 
We would earnestly request members of the 
Cooper Ornithological Club who collect birds’ 
skins to have the bird render a double value 
to science by preserving the stomachs for ex- 
amination. As is generally known the De- 
partment of -Agriculture is engaged in deter- 
mining the foods of various birds, upon which 
results are based bulletins of great economic 
A'alue. Prof. F. E. L. Beal is at this time en- 
gaged in collecting stomachs in California and 
at the request of this magazine submits the 
following suggestions for those who may care 
to undertake the woi'k : 
“The Biological Surve}- is desirous of pro- 
curing the stomachs of birds for the pur- 
pose of investigating their food habits. In 
furtherance of this object it solicits the cooper- 
ation of the ornithologists of California and 
requests that they jmeserve the stomachs (giz- 
zards and crops) of such birds as they may 
collect. The Survey will furnish on applica- 
tion blank schedules for recording data, tags 
for numbering the stomachs and franked 
envelopes for mailing. When collected, the 
stomachs should be placed in alcohol or for- 
malin for at least a week. Before forwarding 
to the Department they should be taken out 
and dried for half an hour or so ; then placed 
in a baking powder can or cigar box, wrapped 
with a franked envelope on the outside and 
mailed. In order to reimburse the collector 
for the outlay for alcohol etc., the sum of five 
cents will be paid for each stomach sent in.’’ 
