17S 
THE COX DOR 
Yol. XII 
finch, Pale Goldfinch, Willow Goldfinch, etc.; 
just as tho the first race described (usually 
eastern) was the species and the rest “sub- 
species of it.” This latter is not an uncommon 
popular notion, but is of course wholly falla- 
cious. Again, we are confronted with “Red- 
winged Blackbird” for Agelaius phoeniceus 
phoeniceus , while all the other subspecies and 
species are variously qualified “Red-wings”. 
Wouldn’t it have been better to have called the 
first, Eastern Red-wing, Eastern Bluebird, 
Eastern Song Sparrow, etc.? 
Incidentally we note much inconsistency in 
the use of hyphens and capital initials in the 
vernacular names. For instance: Bush-Tit, 
Tree-duck, Tree Swallow, Meadowlark; Catbird, 
Sage lien, Surf-bird; Spoonbill, Rough-leg, 
Song Sparrow; Red-wing, Redhead; Pintail, 
Red-tail. However, general typografical 
errors are extremely few; in fact we have de- 
tected only five. 
It will have been notist that the above criti- 
cisms largely appertain to the Pacific Coast, 
with which portion of North America the re- 
viewer happens to be most familiar. It is not 
to be inferred however that the same proportion 
of criticisms could be advanced with like 
reason for those portions of the Check-List 
relating most closely to eastern North America, 
for the very good reason that the personnel of 
the Committee is entirely of the East! 
After all these criticisms, Condor readers 
may have come not unfairly by the idea that 
the present reviewer is either hypercritical or 
harbors some particular grouch; but we do not 
aspire to either undesirable state. We have 
perhaps more reason to welcome and put to 
immediate use the new Check-List than the 
majority of bird students. We wish to empha- 
size with all fervor that in our belief the new 
Check-List is an immensely valuable thing to 
lia^-e. 
We recognize the fact that its completion has 
only been possible thru the combined efforts of 
a number of altruistic men, who have been 
willing to expend quantities of time and effort 
in an undertaking which can bring no com- 
mensurate credit to each individual concerned. 
Let us therefore acknowledge sincere apprecia- 
tion to the Committee in charge (Allen, Rich- 
mond, Brewster, Dwight, Merriam, Ridgway 
and Stone), for their very material servis in 
thus contributing to the advancement of 
ornithology. 
As brought out in the first paragraf of this 
review, the new Check-List cannot be rightly 
considered a permanent standard. It serves 
rather as a new basis (a most invaluable func- 
tion) enabling students of North American 
birds to start out afresh in the more exact de- 
termination of distribution and systematic 
status of the species. — J. Grinneli,. 
MINUTES OF COOPER CLUB MEETINGS 
NORTHERN DIVISION 
February. — The regular monthly meeting 
of the Northern Division of the Cooper Ornith- 
ological Club was held on the evening of 
Saturday, February 12. In the early part of 
the evening the members attended a stereopti- 
con lecture by Mr. W. L. Finley, delivered in 
South Hall, of the University of California, 
under the auspices of the Museum of Vertebrate 
Zoology. Mr. Finley spoke of his experiences 
in the lake regions of northern California and 
southern Oregon, illustrating the remarks with 
a series of beautiful and very interesting pic- 
tures dealing mostly with the water birds of 
the region. An interested and highly appreci- 
ative audience filled the room to the limit of 
its capacity. 
After the lecture the Cooper Club members 
present assembled in the lecture room of the 
Museum, where the meeting was called to 
order by the President. The minutes of the 
January meeting were read, and accepted as 
read. On motion the Secretary was instructed 
to cast the unanimous ballot of all present, 
electing to active membership the names 
presented at the last meeting. 
The proposal to elect Dr.J. A. Allen to honorary 
membership in the Cooper Club, which was 
brought forward at the January meeting, was 
again read, and, on motion duly seconded and 
carried, the same was past. Applications for 
membership from Joseph L. Sloanaker, Raisin, 
California, and Percy L. Judd, Chico, Califor- 
nia, both proposed by W. Lee Chambers, were 
presented and laid over until the next meeting. 
After the business before the meeting had 
been disposed of, Mr. Finley exhibited a large 
number of his beautiful bird photographs, a 
treat much appreciated by those present. 
II. W. Carriger, Secretary. 
March. — The March meeting of the Northern 
Division of the Cooper Ornithological Club was 
held on Saturday evening, March 26, in tlielectnre 
room of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Ber- 
keley. The meeting was called to order at 8:30 
p. m. , with Senior Vice-president Rosewell Wheel- 
er in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting 
were read, and approved as read. On motion 
the Secretary was instructed to cast the unani- 
mous vote of all present electing to active 
membership Messrs. J. L. Sloanaker, and 
Percy L. Judd, which names were presented at 
the last meeting. 
The resignation of Miss Applegate of Day- 
wards was read and laid over till the next 
meeting. 
