240 
Notes and Comments 
[ The Emu 
L Jan. 
“Ornithologists have recently been hearing a good deal of the 
International Museum of Comparative Ooology at Santa Bar¬ 
bara, California. We have now before us the first number of 
the Journal of this Museum, edited by the director, W. L. Daw¬ 
son, and entitled The Comparative Oologist. Throughout, the 
claim is made that oology is an independent science of consider¬ 
able importance — once indeed we are told that ‘Oology is the 
science of one half of the biologic process’; but the Journal itself 
enables us to see how much weight is to be attached to these 
claims. We will content ourselves with one passage, in which 
the editor informs us that the shell of a bird’s egg has been 
formed in the ovary, ‘that innermost sanctuary of life!’ and 
therefore enables us (how is not stated) to penetrate into the 
mysteries of the ‘reproductive stream itself.’ Numerous other 
quotations could be made to show that Mr. Dawson, while ad¬ 
mirably qualified to write of generalities in a high-faluting style, 
appears to be unfamiliar with elementary facts concerning his 
special subject-matter. We wonder what men like Dr. R. Ridg- 
way, Dr. Shufeldt, Mr. Oberholser, or the Rev. F. Jourdain will 
teel when they see themselves associated with the highly original 
avian anatomy and physiology of the sort we have quoted. We 
may also quote from the rules: ‘Any person of scientific integ- 
n ty, having attained the age of 18, who is interested in the pur- 
suit of oology as a science or in the collecting of bird's eggs 
(italies ours) may become a ‘Scientific Member’ of the Museum.’ 
1 hat is what many had supposed: now we know it. But the 
Museum cannot have it both ways. It can be a centre for egg- 
collectors, patrons of what is an amusing and interesting sport 
1 not carried (as unfortunately sometimes happens) to the pitch 
° mania. Or it can be an institution for the scientific study 
° e &g-shells, from which we may doubtless expect some, though 
t^ i Ver ^ m } lc h or very valuable, new knowledge. But it must not 
i 1 . that it can use science as a cloak for mere collecting; and 
a t is precisely what, with its present rules and organisation, it 
a Ppears to be trying to do.” 
. r ‘ W. Cayley, R.A.O.U., the well-known Australian bird 
q £ ls t, ln forms us that he will be pleased to paint pictures, free 
. ., cos h * or reproduction in The Emu, to illustrate papers con- 
in 1 r d ^ mem bers of the Union. The beautiful cojoured plate 
tne present number is from a painting which Mr. Cayley 
, ? 3 y request, and is the best possible evidence of the value 
1 “is generous offer. 
or^h communicati 9 ns m connection with The Emu, and articles 
Ed> 10t ° S ^ 01 P u hhcation should in future be addressed to the 
l .|° r T a _t Sherwood, near Brisbane, not to the official address 
ot the Union. 
^ * le ^ate of publication was 20th February. 1925. 
