CONDOR Vol. XIV Mr. Grinnell spoke on the distribution of hummingbirds in California, illustrating his talk with specimens, and with maps showing the ranges of the breeding species.--H. S. S'?' ARTH, Secretary. FEBRUARY--The February meetihg of the Northern Division was held at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology on Saturday even- ing, February 17. President Coggins was in the chair, and the following mem- bers present: Miss Atsatt and Miss Heald, and Messrs. Carriger, Gifford, Grinnell, Taylor, and Swarth. The min- utes of the January meeting were read, fol- lowed by the Southern Division January min- utes. The following new members were elected: H. S. Hathaway, Chester Stock, and C. H. Kennedy. New names presented for membership are: Miss Anna Head, Berkeley, presented by Mr. Grinnell; Miss Margaret W. Wythe, Oakland, presented by H. C. Bryant; and George E. Stone, South Pasadena, pre- sented by W. P. Taylor. Mr. Taylor, Chairman of the Committee on Conservation of Wild Life, gave a verbal re- port of the activities of the Committee. The election of editor and business managers of THE COrn)OR for 1912, nominations having already been made by the officers of both divisions, gave the following results: Editor, J. Grinriell; Business Managers, J. Eugene Law and W. Lee Chambers. A letter was read from the secretary of the Pacific Coast Association of Scientific Societies, appointing W. P. Taylor, representing the Cooper Club, a member of a committee acting for the Association 'as an auxiliary in promoting con- ventions of scientific and learned organiza- tions in San Francisco during the Exposilion year 1915. Mr. Grinnell gave a brief talk 'on present conditions in the Imperial Valley, and the birds to be seen there, as observed on a recent visit, while on the Agricultural Demonstration Train. Adjourned.--H. S. SWARTH, Secre- tary. COMMUNICATION APROPOS THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED PERMANENT COMMITTEES OF THE COOPER dLUB ?OR 'THE CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE. Conservation has by this time come to rep- resent in a fairly definite manner certain issues of great importance to the .best good of the people, and it is coming to be realized that the principle should be' extefided to cover other things than 'forests and 'water power. Not the least of these is the wild-life of the community. The. presence within a state or country of native species of birds, mammals, and fishes, while it is, on the one hand, a distinct esthetic asset, has on the other a definite money value? In a commonwealth like California the possibilities of the ideal conserva?tion of song and game birds and of game and non-game mammals and fishes are tremendous. Our wild animals include some of the most attractive of game species, as well as scores of other forms intrinsically of the highest scientific and popular interest. The history of California shows, as does the history of almost every other state and nation, a woeful lack of foresight with regard to the conservation of natural resources in general, and of game in particular. A short life-time (fifty-five years) ago, the flesh of the prong-horned antelope was the cheapest meat in San Francisco, sea otter skins were to be had comparatively cheaply, and elk were not uncommon throughout Northern Cali- fornia. The advance of civilization tends, of course, to crowd out various wild species. This makes the problem of their perpetuation more diffi- cult, and consequently more important to be considered. Among the agencies which have worked for the conservation of wild life is the State Fish and Game Commission. This organization has done good work in a particularly difficult field. But no state commission can go ahead of public sentiment, which often appears not to be particularly interested in the problems which here concern us. It would seem that the Cooper Ornitholog- ical Club has a distinct opportunity to serve the state along these lines. 'The committee gppointed by the Northern Division should CO-operate with the committee of the South- ern Division, to the end that the entire Club may work efficiently for (1) a more wide- spread interest in the conservation of the wild life, (2) enlightened game legislation with regard thereto, and (3) better enforcement of protective laws already existing. Furthermore, the interest of the Club in the matter should be broad enough to include not on133 birds, but other forms, and should be so keen as to sympathize with and actively support similar work carried on elsewhere, as by the Federal Bureau of Biological Survey. The possibility of accomplishment of these permanent committees is large. When it is considered that the Cooper Club is one of the most promising bird organizations in North America, and that it includes men of influ- ence in many fields of commercial and schol- astic activity, it must be conceded that it may become a potent factor for progress along the lines indicated.--WALTER P. TAXmOR.
