CALIF 
Califonii.-i lias unique claims uiion the interest of the world. From Point Barrow 
to Cape l-lorn tliere is no name better known nor mightier to conjure with than that of this 
golden-haired mistress of the Argonauts who lias become the accomplished hostess of the 
nations. We who live here know best how our shores are thronged continually by seekers of 
health, sunsliine, fortune, romance, and all canlily 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. hook on "The Birds of California” is not simply “another bird-book," hut thr 
hook which, outside of one treating of your own State, you will enjoy most of all. .'\nd 
you are coming to California anyway. Of course you are. Everybody worth while is, to visit, 
nr rest, or dream, to retrieve broken fortunes, or recuperate, or luxuriate, or-or study birds. 
BlRPii! Why', we have 531 kinds of them — more by over a hundred than any' other state in 
the Union can show. Do you wonder that we are a little self-conscious? oi very 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 are going to do our best, and we want your 
interest, your help, YOJ'R BNTHUSI.-iSM , NOJV. 
Success, (( success is already assured. We purposely delayed this announcement 
until that point should he reached, hut now that it is reached, we w'ant to act quickly, so as 
to ensure the very largest success possible. We want to build a larger, brighter, better 
book than we first promised, and w'e know that this will be possible if we receive promptly 
tlie endorsement we are asking for. Don't wait till the hard work is all done and the other 
lellows have received all the glory. Help yourself to one of the best editions now .ana en- 
joy hotli the satisfaction of the hooks themselves and the consciousness of having parti- 
cipated in a puldic-spirited serxice. On the next page we are going to tell yon how y'ou 
can do this ; but first, we 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 
;my subscriber. 
Tliat we iiave conscientiously graduated the expenses of our undertaking so as to 
;dlow the financially strong to hear the burdens of the less able. The Patrons are frankly 
e.xpected 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 thereby getting a great deal more than they 
are asked to pay for. 
That there is a place in our endeavor for every sincere bird and book-lover, however 
humble. 
That we 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 casli dividends to our stock 
holders (who. of course, are in tins case the subscribers themselves). And. lastly. 
That we 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 Alay, 1916; but if for 
any reason we require more time, we definitely reserve the right to emplor' another year 
without reproacli or liability. 
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 we require $30,000 to bring our work to press. ( The press 
expenses themselves will stand from $35,000 lo $75,000 more, according to the number 
and quality of the books ordered; but this item will be self-insuring). We are offering 
tlierefore 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 hereliy 
the remainder of 110 shares to memliers of the Cooper Ornithological Club only, for a 
limited time or until sold out, at par. payable ir four annual instalments of $25 each. 
The stock so subscribed for yields dividends payable iu books. That is to say. if you 
subscribe for one share of stock, paying $25 dow'n, and $25 the first day of each Januarv 
thereafter until the sum of $100 has been paid, you will receive as a guaranteed dividend ':i 
set of the Stockholders’ Edition of “The Birds of California” — a set which, if ptiid for on 
ORNIA 
delivery, would cost you $150. (Many sets arc in fact so contracted for). Besides this, 
yoti will retain your interest in th.e Company, and participate in fttture cash dividends, if 
such dividends there he. 
In like manner, a set of the Sunset Edition De Luxe (regular pay-on-delivery price 
$110), may be engaged upon advance payment of $80, of which $20 down and $20 January 
1st each year till paid in full. You will receive a certificate for a three-quarter share of 
stock in The Birds of California Publishing Company, and ;i guarantee of the set of books 
as a dividend. 
A set of the Large Paper Edition De Luxe goes for an advance payment of $50 
($12.50 down and $12.50 per annum till paid) and carries a half share of stock, with 
guarantee. 
Finally, a set of the Booklovers’ Edition may be secured by advance payment of $35 
of which $8.75 down and like payment for three sncceeding Januaries, with issue of a one- 
third share of stock. 
These plans all represent a substantial saving of money, and their previous use has al- 
ready .guaranteed the success of the undertaking. Moreover, the life of our author is 
fully insured in favor of our stockholders to a point above the actual paid-in risk, and 
will he so insured until such time as his manuscript and photos are completed, ready for 
press. There is thus no known possibility of loss. 
Thirty-nine of the Cooper Club members whose names appear above have so sub- 
scribed. and are paying for their stock on the instalment plan. Our present offer to the 
remaining members is still more liberal in view of the now assured results. The daj'S of 
uncertainty have passed. 
We do not say much about cash dividends. There ought to be a good chance of 
such returns, for we mean to put the popular edition on a permanent basis. .But we are 
not asking for your money in order that we may return it in cash dividends. We are ask- 
ing you to invest in books, and we are undertaking, guaranteeing, to give you hooks from 
30 to 50 per cent better than you pay for, because you pay for them noiv. 
Or if you are “afraid of a stock proposition,” you may engage the hooks upon pre- 
cisely the same terms of payment, and the secretary of our company will carry the stock as 
a personal risk ; that is, you will he asked to accept his personal receipt and guarantees for 
moneys received instead of ours. He will own the stock and you will get the books. Our 
Patrons, following the lead of Mr. Crocker, preferred to do this, and are now required 
so to do. You are welcome to cither arrangement, hut we think you are missing a 
good thing if you “pass up” our stock. 
To recapitulate; Any member of the Cooper Ornithological Club may obtain a 
copy of the Stockholders’ Edition for $100 (payable in four payments of $25 each), 
or a Sunset Edition for $80 (four payments of $20 each), or a Large Paper for $50 
(four payments of $12.50 each), or a Booklovers’ for $35 (four payments of $8.75 
each), with or without issue of stock. 
Subscriptions will be filed promptly in the order received. This offer is good till June 
1st, 1913 only, and will automatically expire before that date whenever the remainder of 
the 110 shares is exhausted. No more copies of any edition will be sold thereafter at less 
than full price. 
Xon-incnibcrs are w'elcome to subscribe at the current rate ($110 for Stockholders; 
$85 for Sunset — no reduction on Large Paper and Booklovers), paying for the same in 
four instalments, as above, ivith or ivithout issue of stock, as desired — till June 1st, at 
which time the prices will advance to $120, and .$90, respectively'. 
Subscriptions at the regular rates, payable on delivery of books, are always welcome 
until the limit set for each edition is reached. 
All subscriptions for stock or for books at reduced rates must be accompanied by' 
remitta ice of one-fourth. 
Order blanks and further information will he cheerfully furnished. We request that 
inquirers specify' the particular edition in which they are interested. 
A'ery truly yours, 
THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA PUBLISHING COMPANY, 
San Francisco, Los .-Xiigeles, and Santa Barbara. 
Address all correspondence to the .Santa Barbara office. 
Directors -..X B. Howell, M. C. O. C., Covina; H. S. Swarth, M.C.O.C., Los Ansreles ; 
Wm. E. Colby, Berkeley, President; F. E. Newhurv, M.C.O.C., San Franci.sco ; H. W’. 
Carnger, M.C.O.C., Oakland, Vice President; VV. Lee Chambers, M.C.O.C., Los 
.Angeles; W. Leon Dawson, M.C.O.C., Santa Barbara, 'Secretarv, Treasurer and General 
Manager. 
