CALIF 
California has unique claims upon the interest of the world. From Point llarrovv 
to Cape Horn there is no name better known nor miglitier to conjure with than that of this 
, golden-haired mistress of the Argonauts who has become the accomplislied hostess of the 
nations. We who live here know best how our shores are thronged continually by seekers of 
health, sunshine, fortune, romance, and all earthly delights, and how unerring is the re- 
turn of such as think to shake off the spell once fastened. We sit at the focus of desire, 
and yet so bountiful and varied are the marvelous resources of our State, that not half has 
yet been claimed, and the bloom of nature is still unsullied. Nature’s story is not trite with 
us, and we long to share with the widest circle of friends the freshness of our youthful 
joys. A book on “The Birds of California” is not simply "another bird-book," but thr 
book which, outside of one treating of your ov.m State, you will enjoy most of all. And 
you are coming to California anyway. Of course you arc. Everybody worth while is, to visit, 
or rest, or dream, to retrieve broken fortunes, or recuperate, or luxuriate, or-or study birds. 
BIRDS! Why, we have 531 kinds of them — more by over a hundred than any other state in 
the Union can show. Do yon wonder that we are a little self-conscious? or r-ery insistent 
that we have .got a good thing and need help to enjoy it? 
Well, anyhow, we believe that a work on "The Birds of California” ought to be su- 
premely beautiful and very satisfying. We arc going to do our best, and wc want your 
interest, your helR YOVR ENTHUSIASM . NOW. 
Success, a success is already assured. We jH’.rposely delayed this announcement 
until that point should be reached, Irut now that it is reached, we want to act quickly, so as 
to ensure the very largest success possible. We want to build a larger, brighter, lietter 
book than we first promised, and wc know that this will be possible if we receive promptly 
the endorsement we are asking for. Don’t wait till the hard work is all done and the other 
lellows have received all th.e glory. Help yourself to one of the best editions now ;m(i en- 
joy both the satisfaction of the books themselves and the consciousness of leaving jrarti- 
cipated in a public-spirited service. On the next page we are going to tell yon how you 
can do this ; but first, wc want to remind you : 
That the largest success of the proposed work depends upon cooperation. 
That the realization of our present plans will justify present sacrifice on the part of 
any subscriber. 
That we have conscientiousl\ graduated the expenses of our undertaking so as to 
allow the financially strong to bear the burdens of the less able. The Patrons are franklr 
expected to bear a disproportionately heavy share of the “undertaking cost" of the enter- 
prise. If the Patron does not get quite all he is paying for in sheer physical values, the 
Stockholder and Large Paper subscribers are therebj' getting a great deal more than they 
are asked to pa}' for. 
That there is a place in our endeavor for every sincere bird and book-lover, however 
humble. 
That wc are going to achieve, throughout, the best that skill and experience can 
elaborate from the best materials that money and taste can produce. 
That we shall take a far greater pride in delivering to our customers a set of books 
which fulfil their fondest expectation than we shall in paying cash dividends to our stock- 
holders (who, of course, are in this case the srrbscribers themselves). And, lastly. 
That w'e will not hurry unduly nor scamp our work at any point. We confidently 
expect to go to press September 1st, 1915, and to make deliveries in May, 1916; but if for 
any reason we require more time, we definitely reserve the right to employ another year 
without reproach or liabilitr'. 
A SPECIAL OFFER TO MEMBERS OF THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 
Our enterprise being a purely cooperative one, we have for the sake of convenience in 
administration organized a stock company under the laws of this State. Our authorized 
capital is $75,000, and of this wc require $30,000 to bring our work to press. (The pres.-^ 
expenses themselves will stand from $35,000 to $75,000 more, according to the number 
and quality of the books ordered; but this item will be self-insuring). We are offering 
therefore to subscribers only. 300 shares of our stock of the (original) par value of $100 
each (now $110), on the basis of one share to each Stockholder subscriber, and five to each 
Patron subscriber. Of this amount 190, yielding an income of $19,000, has already been 
sold, and the current price to the public has risen to $110 per share. But we offer herel)y 
the remainder of 110 shares to members of tie Cooper Ornithological Club only, for :i 
limited time or until sold out, at par. payable in four annual instalments of $25 each. 
The stock so subscribed for yields dividends payable in books. That is to say. if yon 
subscribe for one share of' stock, paying $25 down, and $25 the first day of each January 
thereafter until the sum of $100 has been paid, yon will receive as a guaranteed dividend a 
set of the Stockholders’ Edition of “The Birds of California” — a set which, if paid for on 
