98 
'I'HIi CONDOR 
I Vol. IV 
THE CONDOR. 
Bulletin of the 
Cooper Ornithological Club 
OF CALIFORNIA. 
I'ublished bi-inonthly at Santa Clara, Cal., in the interests 
and as Official Organ of the Club. 
CHESTER B.CRLOW, - - Santa Clara, Cal.. 
Editor and Business Manager. 
WALTER K. FISHER, Stanford University Cal. 
HOW.ARP ROBERTSON, Box 55, Sta. A.. Los Angeles. 
■Associates. 
Subscription, (in advance) - - One Dollar a A'ear. 
Single Copies, 25 Cents. 
Six Copies or more of one issue, - i2'/i 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-Chiel. 
Entered at the Santa Clara Post-office as second class 
matter. 
This issue of The Condor was mailed July 17. 
liDITORIAL. 
Why Not Hold .Apropos the projected 
an A. O. TJ. State Meeting of the Coop- 
Congress er Ornithological Club in 
in the West? 1903, in anniversary of its 
ten years' existence, it oc- 
curs to ns that this should prove a most opjtor- 
tune and excellent time for an ornithological 
jubilee, so to speak, having for its aim the 
assembling of ornithologists from both the 
East and the West. The cpiestion suggests 
itself; “Why may not an .A. O. LL Congress 
be held in the West?" We know that such a 
movement would have the warm approval of all 
western ornithologists, while we believe that 
our eastern confreres would correspondingly 
enthuse over the prospect of a western outing. 
Within the past few years ornithologv^ in the 
West and especially in California, has exper- 
ienced a decided and substantial boom, which 
means that our coast workers have taken a 
greater interest in the workings of the A. O. U. 
We know that the annual Congress of the 
Union has frequently led many to wish that 
something less than 3,000 miles might inter- 
vene between the West and the scene of ornith- 
ological activity. At the same time the We.st, 
generallv speaking, has had no valid claim to a 
meeting of the Union, and yet we believe such 
a session woiald be productive of much good. 
Comparatively few of our eastern workers 
are familiar, through actual experience, with 
the geographical conditions affecting bird life 
in California. Frankly we believe that a few 
outings to favored localities would result in a 
fuller appreciation of the elements which may 
differentiate a bird within a restricted range. 
We believe that a study of this feature alone 
would interest our eastern friends, and no 
doubt Mr, Grinnell will consent to illustrate to 
visitors the inherent intuitiveness which sepa- 
rates the yellowthroat of the tules from its 
cousin in a nearby grass plat. 
But aside from the inducements which a 
western meeting should offer to our eastern as- 
sociates, California w'ould most certainly appre- 
ciate the honor accorded by’ a meeting of the 
Union. We can, in advance, safeh’ bespeak a 
cordial welcome and a generous reception 
should a western session be deemed possible. It 
occurs to us that Palo Alto — admirably situated 
to insure a strong attendance and for observa- 
tion jnirpo.ses — w'ould be a model place for a 
congress. It is easy to perceive that such a 
gath.ering would be far-reaching in its effects. 
Alost of our western workers have but little 
conception of an A. O. U. congress. To them it 
would mean a greater appreciation of the Union 
and its work. .Among the older workers ac- 
(piaintances woidd be renewed, while with 
others friendships would be created which 
would endure for years. 
The Cooper Ornithological Club owes much 
to the cordial spirit which pervades its meet- 
ings and which exists between members. We 
presume that the .same element has been infused 
into the Union. .At any rate it will not be 
found lacking in California. We therefore 
earnestly and cordially present the request: 
Mav not California be favored wdth the A. O. U. 
meeting in 1903? 
Readers of The Condor must have been im- 
jmessed with Mr. Vernon Bailey’s article in our 
last issue, reciting the devastation among the 
water-birds frequenting certain lakes in Cali- 
fornia, Oregon and Nevada. The fact that 
such vast and interesting rookeries exist should 
enthuse our western ornithologists, and every 
effort should be put forth to prevent this feaf- 
ure of an otherwise barren region begin de- 
stroyed. 
Air. Wm. Dutcher, Chairman of the .A. O. U. 
Committee on Bird Protection, is about to 
gather data concerning the present status of 
these w'ater-birds and to provide all possible 
protection. .At the same time it becomes the 
dutv of ornithologists residing in California, 
Nevada and Oregon to lend material assistance 
and to co-operate with Mr. Dutcher in his 
praise- worthy work. 
This incident also emphasizes the necessity of 
a bird bill, which California at least would 
have had in force but for the stupidity and 
apathy of its governor. But the next legisla- 
ture will present another opportunity for work, 
and we ma}- confidently look forward to the 
dav when the scores of such natural breeding 
grounds as Tule Lake will remain undisturbed 
throughout the year. 
The June is.sue of America// Ornithol- 
Qoy contains a half-tone photograph labelled 
“'i.’onng Purple Grackles,” purported to have 
been taken by Ross Nicholas. The original 
photograph of this interesting group was taken 
bv Herman T. Bohlman, Oregon’s well-known 
