July, x9o5 ] NOTES AND NEWS exchanges east and west, north and south. Th? exchange valnation is higher than cash valu- ation? the latter averaging perhaps one-third lower, but it is impossible to make a fixed comparison as all exchangers will agree." At the end is given a directory of persons having collections and desiring to exchange. The catalogue should prove of great practical value to persons desiring to exchange nests and eggs. Frank H. Lattin and Ernest H. Short have recently issued "The Standard Catalogue of North American Birds' Eggs" (Filth Edition, April ?9o5). This catalogue is also well known, the fourth edition having appeared in ?896. The present catalogue is printed on right hand page only, leaving the other for notes, and has a more durable cover than the last edition. We used to carry our copy in the field as a substi- tute for the bulky A. O. U. checklist and wore out several in this way. It is evident the pres- ent booklet will not so easily succumb to hard usage. ERRATUM--In May issue, page 83, bottom line but one, read: "Robius have been pres- ent in about half their usual numbers during the past winter.--Dr. R. F. Rooney." This of course agrees with the other observations ou the same page. A New l!?gg Blower.--The following blowing and water-cleaning device, costing about/?t.5o, is the best of all. By using the blower gently you can blow the smallest eggs as well as the large ones. You can get the bulbs at any drug store. Credit for the device must be given my friend Mr. Eastgate. ?. Common bulb syringe. Use as water cleaner 2 Ato. ?. ?iz. er t)ult). Note val eat tv )ase/'?U as 'e ,low pipe by squeezing bulb. ?/. Glass ?..?._?. tubi gn drawn o.tl.t for. on zlz e ]]. Common egg blow-pipe. Note [. -? that b th Ao an B are sed t in brads ? r ,111 so that the iwllny ot turn or slip ariawares I have mine arranged ? 'l?J so the pipes will lsip out when [ am through with them. The board stands on an incline and is placed at such a height that I am seated during entire operation. Directly beneath A and B, I place a large open can into which the water aud egg matter falls. Pail of soapy water. With the above apparatus you can blow eggs six times faster tban with your mouth. The beauty of it all is that after filling the egg with water by means of the cleanser (as many times as you want to) you have auother instrument that blows the egg perfectly dry. All small eggs should be held away from the nozzle in blowing and cleaning. It is also a good idea to cut lining around the drill hole with scalpel or other instrnment before blowing.--W. L. COL- V I N, Oxa7?(ltolll/d, ?t #sas. We regret to announce the death of Walter E. Bryant, honorary member of the Cooper Orni- thological Club, at the Waldeck Sanatorimn, San Francisco, May 2r. A notice of Mr. Bryant's work will appear in a future issue. Minutes of Club Meetings NoRTtlERN DIVISION MA.--Instead of holding the regular meet- ing May 6th; it was held April 29th , in the Council Room of the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. There being no ex- ecutive officer present, H. R. Taylor was ap_ pointed chairman, and the meeting was called to order at 8:3 P.M. H.B. Kaeding was ap- pointed secretary pro tern, and program was taken up. Mr. Taylor spoke on a recent visit of several Club members to tile colony of great blue, and black-crowned night herons, at Red- wood City, after which he discussed the action of the Fish Commission in refusing to grant permits to egg collectors. The following reso- lutions were introduced by Mr. Taylor, and unanimously passed by the seventeen members present: WHEREAS, The Cooper Ornithological Clab of Califor. nia, organized for the study of Oology, and Ornithology in all its branches, recognizes and asserts the coordinate importance ol Oology Ithe study of eggs arid nests, and Ihe working out ol the life histories of North American birds). witb syste?natic ornithology, as embracing the collection and comparisoa of hird skins in the further- auce of scientific investigation: and WHEREAS, %'e further recognize that the collection and study of nest.s and eggs by Californian collectors, has been, and is, a prime factor in the growth and stability of this Club, while adding much to tbe storehouse of knowledge, and lending most materially to give this Club the high standing it now enjoys among men of ?ience. and scientific institutions of this country and abroad, as one ol the most active associations of bird students in the United States; and WHEREAS, We regard any inhibition upon the scientific collecting of nests and eggs by our bird students as of serious detriment to scientific inquiry, and an infrac- tion of the rights of a large number of members of this
