56 
THE CONDOR 
| Vor,. VIII 
sorted somewhat as to subjects and authors. The volumes are numbered consec- 
utively and the papers of each volume are numbered. Any paper is found by 
means of a card index giving number of volume and number of paper. If a vol- 
ume contains papers by one or a few authors their names may be printed on the 
back, as well as the general subject treated in the volume, and at the bottom the 
name of owner. The first three volumes of such a series might have backs marked 
as follows: 
MEXICAN 
BIRDS 
EVOLUTION 
FISHES 
I 
2 
3 
Brewster 
Cope 
Everman 
Nelson 
Ridgway 
[or dan 
Gar man 
Gill 
SMITH 
SMITH 
SMITH 
This method commends itself by reason of the facts, that the papers are well 
protected, a volume is not so easily mislaid as a small pamphlet, and the pages 
having been cut in binding, are more easily run thru in order to locate a given 
paragraph. This method is more expensive than the first, but the greater con- 
venience is well worth the additional cost. 
I have given the two systems a pretty thoro test side by side, working with 
one set of papers bound and another equal number of papers unbound, and for 
convenience the bound volume is away ahead of the bunch of loose papers. 
I hope the above notes will call forth additional remarks on the subject. 
Manila , P. /. 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
Birds Whose Notes Are Imitated by the Western Mockingbird. — For the past three 
years I have made observations on the song of the western mockingbird in the vicinity of Pasa- 
dena and find in every instance that they imitate the commonest and most noisy birds of the 
locality. A striking proof of this was noted on Santa Catalina Island in the earl}’ part of last 
April. The western flycatcher was very numerous and in full song and as a result the mocking- 
birds of the Island were imitating it freely, something I have never known a mainland mocking- 
bird to do. 
In addition to the notes of other birds, the mockingbird utters several scolding notes which 
are strictly its own, but these are seldom heard in the regular song. There are quite a number of 
notes which I have been unable to place as yet. However, I think the following list will con- 
vey an approximate idea of the birds mimicked by Mimus polyglottos leucopterus in this region. 
Western gull (Santa Catalina Island), killdeer, valley partridge, sparrow hawk, California 
woodpecker, red-shafted flicker, asli-tliroated flycatcher, Say phcebe, black phoebe, western wood 
pewee, western flycatcher (Santa Catalina Island), California jay, western meadowlark, Arizona 
hooded oriole, Bullock oriole, Brewer blackbird, San Diego song sparrow, black-headed gros- 
beak, western tanager, western martin, cliff swallow, phainopepla, California shrike, western 
gnatcatcher, dwarf hermit thrush, western robin. — C. H- Richardson, [r. , Pasadena , Cal. 
