THE CONDOR.
Bulletin of the
COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB OF CALIFORNIA.
Published bi-monthly at Santa Clara. Cal., in the interests and as Official Organ of the Club.
CHESTER BARLOW, - Santa Clara. Cal.. Editor-in-Chief.
HENRY REED TAYLOR, - - Alameda. Cal. HOWARD ROBERTSON. Box 55. Sta. A., Los Angeles. Associates.
DONALD A. COHEN, -: - Alameda. Cal., A. I. McCORMICK. Bradbury Block. Los Angeles. Cal.,
Business Managers.
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Entered at the Santa Clara Post-office as second class matter.
This issue of the Bulletin was mailed Mar. 16.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
Club collection of Photographs
We take pleasure in presenting a suggestion offered by Mr. Frank of 8. Daggett, one of the energetic members of the Southern Division of the Club in the matter of starting a Club collection of portraits. Everyone knows how an exchange of photographs contributes to the fraternal feeling which exists between correspondents, and the writer recalls several collections of portraits of ornithologists which are prized by their owners and which seldom fail to interest visiting naturalists.
Why not, then, have an "ornithological gallery" for the Cooper Ornithological Club? The idea need only be assented to by each member to receive an impetus. Mr. Daggett's excellent suggestions best convey the plan. He writes: '"'The idea is to gather photographs of parties at a tie when they are active in their work, such photographs being of great interest twenty or thirty years hence. I would suggest that the Condor start some such movement; it need not necessarily be a 'Rogue's Gallery,' but a collection of the ornithologists of the United States and Canada, gradually extending to those of other countries. If the Club has no place for such a collection where it could be accessible at all times, it would be an easy matter to find a large scientific body to act as custodian, but I think the Club the proper custodian."
Now let the Club members give voice to their ideas in the matter. Where shall the collection be kept if begun, and will each reader of the Connor help on the effort by the donation of a portrait? Were each member of the Club to respond, we would immediately have nearly 100 photographs as a nucleus. Mr. Daggett's suggestion is a timely one and should be met with a hearty response, as it involves but little trouble on the part of each individual.
An "Exchange Bureau"
Several years ago our fellow Member. Mr. John W. Mailliard of San Francisco, proposed the formation of an Exchange Bureau as a means of promoting the exchange of specimens among Californians. The idea was a feasible one, but through insufficient organization in the Club at that date, nothing came of the suggestion. With the present perfect working organization of the Club and its ability to thoroughly represent each and every member in any matter of mutual welfare, there is no reason why an Exchange Bureau of permanent value to the Club's members cannot successfully be organized.
Such an organization could be conducted with proper dignity and in a business-like manner, and would serve to promptly fill many wants, whereas such gaps now remain open until a chance exchange supplies what is wanted. It would result, too, in more exchanging being done in California, and the subsequent upbuilding of western collections. To inaugurate the movement any member or officer of the Club could be selected to act as manager of the Bureau, and to him each member would, at stated periods, be asked to mail a list of specimens he could offer in exchange as also his list of wants. The descriptions in skins should be explicit, such as "Rufous-crowned Sparrow, ♂ or ♀. Thurber's Junco, ♂ juv.," etc. Upon the receipt of all lists the manager would combine them into a printed sheet, each list of wants and exchange material to be printed over the name and address of its sender.
This completed list would then be mailed to each Club member who would know to a nicety just what material was obtainable at the time, and also if his surplus specimens were desired by anyone. Correspondence would then follow directly between parties interested, and without further effort to the Club. Thus would an Exchange Bureau operate, and the lists might be compiled and sent out twice a year at a very small expense to the Club. Is the idea worth trying? We think so. Now that the organization of the Club has been so perfectly established, let us begin to inaugurate some of the many possible meritorious movements which will directly benefit members and cause them to value their membership the more. The inauguration of the Exchange Bureau idea rests with the members of the Club.
It is seldom that the vandals who supply the millinery trade with bird skins ply their vocation openly, but such a person has come to light in the form of W. B. Caraway, "Bird Man," Alma, Arkansas. Mr. Caraway under the pretentions of dealing in song birds sends out a circular, at the end of which is a paragraph reading: "We can furnish birds skins and skins of small animals (native) for taxidermists and millinery purposes in large quantities at reasonable prices. Located in the South, we are in a position to furnish almost all kinds of native birds." If there are any peace officers in this portion of Arkansas, and any statutes protecting song or other birds, it would
