44 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XV 
THE CONDOR 
j\ Magazine of 
'Western OrnitKology 
Published Bi-Monthly by the 
Cooper Ornithological Club 
J. GRINNELL, Editor, Berkeley. CsLlifornia 
HARRY S. SWARTH, Associate Editor 
J. EUGENE LAW ) _ . „ 
W. LEE CHAMBERS i Managers 
Hollywood, Californii: Putilislied Foli. 8, 1918 
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EDITORIAL NOTES AND NEWS 
Every one of our readers will doubtless 
join with us in congratulating Mr. William 
Leon Dawson on his remarkable success with 
the Surf-birds, as described on the first pages 
of our new volume. Here is a bird so rare 
that many a large collection entirely lacks a 
specimen ; yet a flock was "captured” by the 
camera, and the results now presented bring 
the species to the intimate acquaintance of 
anyone who sees our magazine. We may say 
suh rosa that Etawson has some more con- 
quests, to be announced in the course of the 
year. 
The publication of two more numbers of 
the Cooper Club’s Avifauna series is planned 
for the year 1913. The manuscripts for both 
are now in the Editor’s hands and wdll go to 
the printer as soon as our Business Managers, 
Chambers and Law, give the word. The ti- 
tles of the two new brochures are : “Birds of 
the Fresno District, California”, by John G. 
Tyler ; and ‘“Distributional List of Arizona 
Birds”, by Harry S. Swarth. 
Mr. George Willett left San Francisco De- 
cember 5 as one of a party headed by Com- 
modore Salisbury, U. S. N., organized to vis- 
it several of the small islets northwest of 
llawaii. The expedition is sent out under 
the auspices of the U. S. Biological Survey, 
and has for its chief object the inspection of 
Laysan Island. Here it is proposed to take 
a census of the sea-bird population and to 
take steps for further protecting the colonies 
of albatrosses recently threatened with exter- 
mination through the raids of plumage hunt- 
ers. Another danger menaces the burrowing 
petrels, namely, rabbits. These mammals were 
thoughtlessly liberated on the island some 
years ago and it is feared will rout out cer- 
tain birds from the very limited nesting area 
of the latter. It is hoped that some means 
may be discovered by which Laj^san wdll be 
entirely rid of the mischievous rabbits. 
Mr. R. H. Beck, so well known for his 
splendid make of water-bird skins, left San 
Francisco December 15 for a year’s field 
work around the southern end of South 
.America. He will pay especial attention to 
the sea-birds, collecting on this trip in the 
interests of Dr. L. C. Sanford, of New^ 
Haven, Connecticut. 
Mr. A. C. Bent is planning an expedition 
for the early spring along the coast of Lower 
California in quest of birds. He will be ac- 
companied by H. H. Kimball and H. W. 
Marsden. 
It is perhaps oftenest the wisest thing to 
hush up an unpleasant matter, especially if 
it involve a member of one’s own house- 
hold or an associate in social or club affilia- 
tion. In the present instance, however, the 
opportunity for the pointing of a good strong 
moral seems to overbalance the instinct for 
clannish secrecy. 
The Cooper Ornithological Club has al- 
ways stood for absolute honesty, more par- 
ticularly in regard to whatever relates to its 
own field of interest. One purpose of the 
Club is to contribute to ornithology as a 
science, in other wmrds to add facts to 
our knowledge of birds. 
The case referred to is one wdiere the evi- 
dence pointed toward the fabrication of data 
by a Club member, such spurious data having 
been put in circulation attached to certain 
specimens. To state the case plainly, “facts” 
were forged, and might easily have found 
place in published literature. Who know’S 
but what such has really happened, though 
now' beyond finding out? 
Needless to say, the tainted name has 
been expunged from the Club’s membership 
roster, after due procedure, as noted in the 
Minutes. 
Unscrupulousness in the statement of scien- 
tific detail is, of course, not distantly _ allied 
to “nature-faking.” The former is criminal, 
the latter very nearly so. Neither are to be 
countenanced by the true student, typified in 
the Cooper Club’s membership. 
It is probably superfluous to urge tbe dis- 
tinction between the above exhibition of per- 
versity, and the innocent making of mistakes. 
Not one of us has contributed to published 
ornithology but what experiences gnawing- 
regrets over mistakes of which he was origi- 
nally unaware. As long as these regrets stii 
the soul, one may be sure that he is _ pos- 
sessed of a scientific conscience justifying 
him, with increased care for accuracy, in 
further contribution. 
