Page:Condor4(2).djvu/21

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

MAR., t9o2. I THE CONDOR 49 GENERAL NEWS NOTES. O. W. Howard and H. S. Swarth have departed for a five months' collecting trip in Arizona. On March 4 Mr. Chas. R. Keyes presented a paper before the Ornithological Section of the Academy of Sciences entitled "Eastern Iowa as a Field for the Ornithologist." R. C. McGregor, whose ornithological work has become extralimital, has occasioned sonic uneasiness by sending a note from the "Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes for the Philippine Is- lands"! Malcohn P. Anderson has spent the past winter in the Sisyiyou Mountains in the north- western part of the state. From latestadvices Mr. Anderson has been very successful in obtain- lug several birds of particular interest. 3,Ir. J. H. Bowles of Tacoma, Wash. has in process a work on The RiJ'ds of kg_ashinxloJt to be issued at perhaps an early date. Mr. Bowles' painstaking au:t accurate writings assure ornitho- logists of a treat in the completed work. Mr. H. W. Fowler, a well-known Philadelphia ornithologist and formerly secretary of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, is now locate4 at Stanford Univeasity and delivered a most entertaining pal?er at the March meeting of the Northern Division. Oologists will regret to hear that Mr. A.M. Shields contenlplates disposiug of his elltire egg collection, which is one of the most extensive remaining ml the coast. Lack of time in which to care for the collection has brought about this decision, but it is to be hoped that many of the fine series will be secured illtact by other advanced oologists. All Alameda paper prints the following advertisement which has been traced to H. R. Tay- lor: "FoRSALE. Live.great horned owl and peregrine falcon, handsome birds, little care, fed once a day on meat. Owl has a fine bass voice and hoots nightly and on foggy mornings; better than an alarm clock; lives in cahoots with falcon. Reasonable price; address 'Hoot Mort, ' thii office." Archibald J. Campbell, author of "Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds," and a prominent ornithologist of that region writes Mr. M. S. Ray under date of Dee. i?, i9o?: "You may be glad to hear that we have started an ornithological union in Australia with an official journal called 'The Emu.' So far the movement has received great encouragement not only from home but abroad also." As we go topress an expedition is about to depart to engage in work among the fishes, inver- tebrates atld birds of the Hawaiian Islands. Dr. Chas. H. Gilbert of Stanford University is ill charge and is accompanied by Walter K. Fisher and J. O. Snyder, besides other zoologists, who will have their headquarters on the U.S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross. The expedition will be gone six motlths. Mr. Win. Alauson Bryan is investigating desirable birds to introduce into the Hawaiian Is- lands. Tilere have bectl recent invasions of injurious iusects and Mr. Bryan hopes tc find some California species adapted to the conditions of the islands which will at the same time extermi- nate these pests. We doubt the advisability of introducing foreign birds for snch purposes. Species occasionally change their habits under new conditions forcibly imposed and are likely to prove nndesirable citizens. It is worth remarking that not in the nine years of its existence has a meeting of the Cooper Ornithological Club been deferred on account of inclement weather uutil the session of March x. On that day the elements conspired to bring about such boistero?s conditions that few even of the enthusiasts chose to venture out. Mr. Grillnell, with a proper reffard for his presidential duties, and accompanied by an anchor and all umbrella, sought tile meeting place at Stanford University where he informally 'received' the kindred spirits who assembled. Tile meeting was postponed and the session of a week later proved o:le of the most enthusiastic of recent years. Tile chapter arrangement uuggested by Mr. ])aggett some months ago and later embodied in the new constitation of the club, bids fair to become a reality. The Oakland members of the club, headed by Misses Helen Swett aml Bertha L. Chapman, hope to organize a chap- ter at an early date. If so, Oakland can elailn honor for the initial chapter, and other sec- tions should rapidly follow the example.