132 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVIII 
mountainous portions of the West. Such 
topics as the effect of slope exposure and 
deforestation are here for the first time 
clearly discussed. 
Of course, among the multitude of con- 
tributions now appearing annually there are 
very many highly meritorious papers. But 
the above three would seem to have first 
set a high standard each of its kind. 
The sympathies of the Cooper Club will 
go out to our fellow member, Mr. W. F. 
Dean, of Three Rivers, who recently suf- 
fered severe losses through a fire at his 
home. Mr. Dean’s .extensive egg collection 
was destroyed, as well as some mounted 
mammal heads and birds, a large collection 
of photographs, and many other objects 
acquired in his years of natural history col- 
lecting. In spite of the discouragements of 
this disaster, however, he expresses the 
firm intention of once more beginning the 
building up of another collection along simi- 
lar lines. 
The Club is indebted to Mr. L. E. Wyman 
for the compiling of the annual member- 
ship roster appearing in this issue, an ardu- 
ous task as those who have labored at it 
can testify. This list shows a present mem- 
bership of 7 honorary, 11 life, and 560 active 
members. It is requested that any mis- 
takes or omissions be promptly reported to 
the secretary of either division of the Club. 
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATED SOCI- 
ETIES FOR THE CONSERVATION 
OF WILD LIFE 
Most readers of The Condor are 
familiar with the story of the organization 
of the California Associated Societies for 
the Conservation of Wild Life, and with its 
activities since its formation. It has taken 
honorable and active part in two strenuous 
campaigns for the protection of wild life 
within California, and has aided and abetted 
in certain other movements for conserva- 
tion within the state and elsewhere. No- 
where else, as far as known to the writer, 
is there another organization like it. Al- 
though it has not been in the heat of the 
battle during the past year, it nevertheless 
stands as a ready instrumentality, not only 
to put the quietus on any reactionary legis- 
lation which might be proposed, but to 
assist in any measure, public or private, 
state or national, which may be deemed 
desirable. It is fair to say that the organi- 
zation stands as a large and potentially im- 
portant item in California’s program of 
preparedness in caring for those natural 
resources with which she has been so boun- 
tifully endowed. 
It should be a matter of interest and pride 
to members of the Cooper Ornithological 
Club that the initiative in the original organ- 
ization and launching of the Associated 
Societies was taken by this organization. 
At the present time the following members 
of the Club are members of the Executive 
Committee of the conservation organization, 
of which committee they constitute a major- 
ity: William Frederic Bade, President, rep- 
resenting the Sierra Club; Barton Warren 
Evermann, Vice-president, and Joseph Grin- 
nell, representing the California Academy 
of Sciences; Charles A. Kofoid, represent- 
ing the Biological Society of the Pacific; 
and Tracy I. Storer, Secretary-Treasurer, 
officially representing the Cooper Club. 
According to the letterhead of the Asso- 
ciated Societies the organization exists “To 
promote an intelligent appreciation of 
nature, and to establish a wise policy of 
conservation through education and legisla- 
tion.” Legitimate fields of activity are 
numerous, and comprise not alone the pro- 
motion of desirable legislation affecting wild 
life in California, but the support of national 
measures, such as those for the protection 
of migratory birds, the establishment of 
additional federal game preserves, the crea- 
tion of new national parks and the more 
efficient administration of those now exist- 
ing, the coordination of the work of the 
scientific expert and of those responsible for 
the actual administration of wild life. 
I feel sure that the present policy of the 
organization contemplates the conservation 
of the scientific collector, though formal ex- 
pression of this has never been put on rec- 
ord. The obstacles and difficulties which 
hedge about the activities of the collector 
are already sufficiently numerous to insure 
against any appreciable abuse of such privi- 
leges as may be accorded him. On the other 
hand, the first hand acquaintance which he 
forms with nature is of great value, and 
often suffices to transform him into a fight- 
ing conservationist. 
The present writer desires to express his 
sincere appreciation of the interest and 
assistance of Cooper Club members so cor- 
dially extended during the period of his 
incumbency as representative of the Cooper 
Club on the Executive Committee of the 
Associated Societies. If he might make a 
suggestion, it would be that Cooper Club 
members take occasion to mention their 
interest in the organization and that for 
