Sep., 1901 I 
THE CONDOR 
133 
while to illustrate the opportunities of the ob- 
servant traveller in passing through an unfa- 
miliar region. One who teaches in one field 
may learn in another without thereby forfeit- 
ing his right to serve other learners in the pro- 
cess. Facilit}^ in rapid field identification is a 
thing well worth striving for, even at the risk 
of certain minor inaccuracies which the careful 
local student could avoid. Indeed it seems to 
us that the line of vital progress is right here 
and that the ability to distinguish forty-nine 
species out of fifty ‘on the wing’ is worth more 
than the ability to determine the subspecific 
rank of fifty dead birds. Respectfully, 
W. Leon D.wvson. 
CoUimbus, O. 
Falco columbarius at Santa Clara, Cal. 
On October 18, 1900, Mr. Wm. L. At- 
kinson of this place collected a fine 
specimen of the Pigeon Hawk {Falco 
columbarius^ just north ot Santa Clara. 
The bird is a male in adult plumage, 
and was shot from a fence bordering a 
seed field, from which the hawk doubt- 
less secured its prey in the shape of 
various sparrows which frequent the 
field. C. Barlow. 
Santa Clara, Cal. 
GENERAL NEWS NOTES. 
Walter E. Bryant has returned from a several months’ trip to Guatemala and Central Amer- 
ica. 
Harry Beal Torrey of Berkeley has been appointed instructor in the zoological department 
of the University of California. 
Prof. Leverett M. Loomis, after a vacation in the East, has returned to his duties as curator 
in the department of ornithology of the California Academy of Sciences. 
Prof. Chas. R. Keyes has returned from a visit to his home in Mount Vernon, Ta., and is 
filling his chair at the University of California. 
John J, Williams has spent several months at Independence Lake during the summer, en- 
gaging in bird work as opportunity offered. 
Walter K. Fisher, while engaged in Biological Survey work in Kern and Tulare counties in 
.\ugust, made a side trip to the Sequoia National Park, camping on .Vita Peak at it, 000 feet alti- 
tude. 
Richard C. McGregor writes from Dutch Harbor, Alaska under date of June 28, that he is 
pursuing ornithology in addition to his Coast survey work, having some 300 skins and some in- 
teresting sets of eggs up to the time of writing. 
Prof. F. E. L. Beal and W. Otto Emerson are enjoying a ten days’ collecting trip at Pacific 
Grove. Professor Beal has covered a greater portion of the fruit districts of the state during 
his stay in California. 
Robert E. Snodgrass has been serving as a member of a Commission specially appointed by 
the California Fish Commission to determine the food of the seals and sea-lions occurring along 
the Californian coast. Fishermen have steadily accused these interesting animals of destroying 
food fishes, but the work of the commission thus far has nor concurred in the charge. 
Mr. .Vrthur L. Bolton, prominently known as a member of the Cooper Ornithological Club, 
was united in marriage to Miss Mae Saylor at Tempe, Ariz., on July 20. Mr. Bolton formerly re- 
sided at Berkeley, Cal,, where his earnest and unassuming method of work won for him many 
friends, who extend their cordial wall wishes. Mr. Bolton is now permanently located at Tempe, 
The occurrence of specimens of the California Vulture is always of interest, so we borrow the 
following from a recent letter from Mr. F. S. Daggett : “ A handsome big condor lit not 50 feet 
from Chas, Groesbeck while he was ploughing his orange orchard. The bird did not wait long 
enough for him to get a pinch of salt or a gun. Now Charley plows with a full arsenal strapped 
to his plough. He even conteuqilates killing one of his horses and hiding in a pit nearby, but 
the Southern Division Cooper Club members have sent in so many applications for reserved 
seats he has decided to postpone the capture.” 
Miss Jean Bell of Ridley Park, Pa, has disposed of her superb collection of birds’ eggs to John 
Lewis Childs of Floral Park, N. V. In acquiring this collection Mr. Childs becomes the posses- 
sor of what is undoubtedly the finest private collection of North American birds’ eggs in exist- 
ence, Miss Bell devoted much time and money to the work of building up the collection, and 
most of the sets of little-known and rare species taken in reeent years by field workers found 
their way into her collection. Doubtless Mr, Childs will continue the same policy, so that the 
collection will not be surpassed in years to come. Mr. J. Parker Norris Jr’s warbler series will 
likewise probably remain the finest in America. 
