Mar., 1910 
EDITORIAL NOTES AND NEWS 
81 
THE CONDOR 
An Illustrated Magazine 
of Western OrnitHolog'y 
Publisht Bi-Monthly by the Cooper Ornithologi- 
cal Club of California 
JOSEPH GRINNELL. Editor. Berkeley. Cal. 
J. EVGENE LAW. Business Manager, Hollywood, Cal. 
W. LEE CHAMBERS, Business Manager, Santa 
Monica, Cal. 
HARRY S. SWARTH 
ROBERT B. ROCKWELL J Associak e Edl,ors 
Hollywood, California: Publisht Mar, 25, 1910 
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EDITORIAL NOTES AND NEWS 
The first expedition for 1910 to take the 
field in the interest of the University of Cali- 
fornia Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, left on 
February 13. The party is headed by Mr. J. 
Grinnell, who is assisted by Messrs. F. Steph- 
ens, J. Dixon and H. Jones; the field of their 
endeavors is the valley of the Colorado River, 
between Needles and Yuma. After a short 
stay at Needles boats were procured, and the 
party started down the stream, the plan being 
to collect at intervals on both sides of the river; 
proceeding by easy stages to Yuma, which will 
lie reacht about May 15. The same trip was 
made by Dr. Elliott Cones, years ago, when 
the country was new and unknown; and it is 
decidedly suggestive to note that the list of 
birds he saw along the river includes several 
species that have not since been observed in 
Arizona — to such an extent has this region 
been neglected by naturalists. The present 
expedition promises much in the way of 
results. 
We are in receipt of an announcement of the 
organization in New York City, on December 
8, 1909, of the American Bird Banding Associa- 
tion, the object of which is “the handing of 
wild birds and the recording of accurate data 
on their movements. ” The migrations of 
birds are thus studied by the placing of num- 
bered, addrest, metal hands upon their legs, 
a record being kept of the same. This method 
of study, tho new in this country, has been 
pursued in Europe for some time. It promises 
interesting results, and there are doubtless 
many Cooper Club members who will be de- 
sirous of assisting in the work. Full informa- 
tion may be procured from the president of 
the society, Dr. Leon J. Cole, Peabody Museum, 
New Haven, Connecticut. 
John Farvvell Ferry, member of the Cooper 
Ornithological Club, died at Chicago, Illinois, 
February 11, 1910, of acute pneumonia. Mr. 
Ferry was born on October 12, 1877 and gradu- 
ated from Yale in 1901. In his preparatory 
work at Andover, Massachusetts, he was one of 
the most popular young men in the school. 
His strong Christian principles and his thoro 
work as Secretary of the Y. M. C. A., anti 
Editor of the school paper at Andover, are still 
spoken of by the officers of that institution. 
Mr. Ferry was fast winning distinction as an 
ornithologist. He had made numerous expedi- 
tions, in Arizona, and, for the United States 
Biological Survey, in the Coast Ranges of Cali- 
fornia. 1 1 is latest and most notable trips were 
several expeditions to Central and South Amer- 
ica, made in the interest of the Field Museum, 
of Chicago. His last trip was to some of the 
islands of the Caribbean Sea, of which little 
or nothing was known ornitliologically, and he 
obtained an immense number of specimens, 
among which were several species and varieties 
new to science. The results of this trip are 
embodied in a report by C. B. Cory on the 
Birds of the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean 
Sea, (Field Mus. Pub. no. 137, Orn. Series, Vol. 
1, no. 5). 
His sterling qualities of heart and mind 
endeared him to all his friends and acquaint- 
ances. During my association with Mr. Ferry 
for twenty years, I have never heard him say a 
depreciating word against any man no matter 
how great an injustice may have been done 
him. Men of this splendid character are rare 
and it behooves ns to take advantage of their 
lives as an example for future guidance. — 
F. M. YV. 
PUBLICATIONS REVIEWED 
The Home-Life of a Golden Eagle. 
By H. B. MacPherson. With thirty-two 
mounted plates. London, 1909, pp. 1-45. 
The account here given of the life of a young 
eagle, during the eleven weeks between its 
birth and the time of its departure from the 
nest, is one of greatest interest. The writer’s 
unusual opportunites for photography 
and study were evidently taken advantage of 
