8o 
THE CONDOR 
| Vol. VIII 
the aid of a map and many photographs the 
faunal and physiographic features of the region. 
Mr. H. R. Taylor exhibited a set of eggs of 
ChcBtura vauxi , and several interesting series 
of cactus wren, scissor-tailed flycatcher, desert 
sparrowliawk, killdeer, spotted sandpiper, and 
others, showing some remarkable variations. 
After a sojourn in the dining-room for re- 
freshments and a postprandial social chat the 
meeting adjourned. 
W. K. Fisher, Acting Secretary. 
Southern Division 
February. — The February meeting of the 
Southern Division was held Feb. 23, 1906, in 
the offices of Mr. Howard Robertson, Bryson 
Building, Los Angeles, with thirteen members 
present, and Mr. C. L. Newcombe visiting. 
After reading and approval of the minutes of 
the last meeting, a communication from Mr. 
Frank Stephens was presented, embodying the 
following resolution, which was adopted. 
Whereas the American Ornithologists’ Union has an- 
nounced its intention to radically revise its current Cheek - 
Eist of North American Birds, and 
Whereas the results of this revision will be of prime 
interest to every member of the Cooper Ornithological 
Club as well as to every ornithologist in the United 
States; now, therefore, 
Be it Resolved, that the Cooper Ornithological Club 
urges upon the American Or lithologists’ Union, 
1st. That such revision be, if possible, so thoro that 
further revision will be unnecessary for a period of 
years, and 
2nd. That the admission of subspecies to this list be 
on a wisely conservative basis, excluding therefrom ob- 
scure or slightly differentiated alleged subspecies, and 
3d. That, after such revision, supplements to include 
necessary changes be issued only at intervals of five years. 
And since uniformity and stability of nomenclature is 
of greater importance to the Cooper Ornithological Club 
than any preference of detail, 
Be it finally Resolved, that this Club will accept and 
use such revised Check-List as the American Ornitholo- 
gists’ Union may agree upou. 
[The above resolutions were not endorsed by 
the Northern Division, as shown by their min- 
utes.] 
The application of C. L- Newcombe, 1235 W. 
Sixth street, Los Angeles, Cal., for active mem- 
bership, was received, and Miss Olga S. Tar- 
bell of Pasadena, and Mr. Bradshaw H. Swales, 
Detroit, Michigan, were elected to active mem- 
bership. 
The following talks and papers were pre- 
sented: 
G. Willett — Talk — Collecting Experiences 
in N E. Montana; Carroll Scott — Paper — Birds 
observed in vicinity of Searchlight, Nevada; 
Grinnell — Paper — Two Questionable Records; 
Grinnell — Talk — The Sapsuckers; O. W. How- 
ard — Paper — The English Sparrow. 
J. Eugene Law, Secretary. 
March. — Meeting called to order at Throop 
Polytechnic Institute, March 22, 1906, by Vice- 
President Judson, with members Clifton, Grin- 
nell, Willett, Miller, Franklin, Taylor, Dixon, 
Richardson, Antonin and Alphonse Jay, and 
Law present, and, as visitors, Mrs. Jessie K. P. 
Whitaker and Mr. Chas. Cosper of Salem, 
Oregon. 
The Minutes of the last meeting, Feb. 23d., \ 
were read and approved. 
The application of Henry K. Coale, 136 
Washington street, room 1205, Chicago, was 
proposed and ordered transmitted to the North- 
ern Division. 
On motion by Mr. Clifton, the Secretary was 
instructed to cast the unanimous ballot of the 
Club for C. L. Newcombe for membership. This 
formality was complied with by the Secretary. 
Letters were read from Mr. F. S. Daggett, 
now of Chicago, and Mr. M. L. Wicks, now of 
Memphis, Tenn., after which Prof. Loye 
Holmes Miller gave a very comprehensive talk 
on the birds of Lower California, exhibiting a 
few skins collected by himself in this region. 
The region known as the Cape Region is em- 
braced between the parallels of 23 degrees and 
24 degrees latitude. The lower part of the pen- 
insula is comparatively isolated, by water on 
three sides, and by the low strip of desert on 
the north, thus developing insular forms. The 
fauna not differentiated corresponds to that of 
adjacent portions of California and the main- 
land of Mexico, across the gulf. Of particular 
interest were the differentiated forms. The 
robin is very pale, tlio apparently not a desert 
form. The yellow-throat becomes larger, 
averaging 25 per cent larger, the cardinal and i 
house finch brighter, the narrow-fronted wood- 
pecker, like our Californian in brightness and 
coloration, except for the restriction of the 
white on the forehead. The approximate ab- 
sence of sparrows and warblers was 
noticeable. 
Mr. Joseph Grinnell gave a talk on the 
smaller hawks and owls, exhibiting skins of 
prairie falcon, Cooper, sliarp-shinned and pigeon 
hawks, and white-tailed kite; also of screech, 
saw-whet and pigmy owls. Mr. Grinnell was 
particularly fortunate in his last summer’s trip, 
in obtaining the fifth specimen taken of the 
dwarf flammulated screech owl. Interesting 
comparisons were drawn between the allied 
forms of these hawks and owls. 
Mr. Grinnell followed this talk with a plea 
for the use of more real common names for our 
birds. He hoped that the new A. O. U. Check- 
list would call quail, quail, and not partridge, 
and that instead of bluebird and western blue- 
bird, We have eastern bluebird and western 
bluebird. Many other instances were suggested 
which, if adopted, would make our check-list 
conform more nearly to the established general 
usages. Adjourned. 
J. Eugene Law, Secretary. 
