Page:Condor18(2).djvu/52

 THI CONDOR Vol. XVIII tin. no. 32, revised. Issued December 29, 1915.] Evidence of awakened interest in the eco- nomic value of birds has just come to us from the most distant of Uncle Sam's pos- sessions, the Philippine Islands. Within the. fourteen pages of the bulletin named above, and appearing under the authorship of a former Californian and pioneer member of the Cooper Ornithological Club, is to be found proof that interest is turning more and more toward the economic aspect of ornithology. The introduction asserts that the greatest value of birds is to be found in their "efficient control of weeds, snakes, small mammals such as rats and mice, and insects that eat and destroy plants and trees." The inclusion of snakes as pests to be destroyed would hardly find a place in a similar work in the United States, a point suggesting the marked difference in conditions existing in the temperate zone and in the tropics. The introduction fur- ther points out that the purpose of the bul- letin is to suggest how the value of birds may be recognized, and the more important benefits be derived, through popular appre- ciation of wild birds and an increased in- terest in them. A short resume of the work done by the United States Biological Survey is followed by a discussion of cer- tain groups of birds whose food habits make them of interest to the Philippine agriculturist Only general statements as to the probable nature of the food are given. The one bird considered of no use "about a farm house or cocoanut grove" is the crow.   The following recommendations as means to the end sought are advanced: The attracting of birds by means of food, water, and nesting boxes; the destruction of natural enemies such as cats; the pro- tection of insectivorous birds from gunners and trappers; and the formation of a soci- ety, similar to the Audubon Society, for the protection of birds. The keeping of poultry is also recommended as a means of con- trolling locusts. If the bulletin had been intended as a contribution to knowledge it would have been of little significance; for it is largely a collection of general facts regarding the relation of birds to agriculture gleaned from economic papers published elsewhere, and is lacking in definite data as to local con- ditions. The evident fact that the paper was designed purely to arouse interest in the subject of economic ornithology among the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands places it in a different and wholly favor- able .light It should also be noted that this bulletin is preliminary to definite work on the food of Philippine birds along the lines of that carried on by the United States Bio- logical SHrvey.--HAROLD C. BRYANT. MINUTES OF COOPER CLUB MEETINGS NORTHERN DIVISION DECEMBER.--The regular monthly meeting of the Northern Division of the Cooper Or- nithological Club was held at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkel.ey, Califor- nia, Thursday evening, December 16, 1915, at 8 P. . President Joseph Mailliard was in the chair with the following members present: Mesdames Allen, Grinnell and Schlisinger, Misses Culver and Wythe, and Messrs. Bryant, Bolander, Carriger, Ever- mann, Hubbs, Storer and Taylor. Among the visitors were Mrs. Taylor and Messrs. Ferris and Martens. The minutes of the Northern Dimsion No- vember meeting were read and approved and the minutes of the Southern Division and Inter-Mountain Chapter for November were read. The following were elected to membership: H. W. Daniels, Mrs. Sophie E. Gay, and Mrs. Adele Lewis Grant. The fol- lowing proposals for membership were read: Miss Edna A. Hannibal, R. F. D. no. 1, San Jose, proposed by J. O. Snyder; Harold E. Hansen, 870 43d Ave., San Francisco, proposed by Tracy I. Storer; and Curtis Wright, Jr., 6436 Benvenue Ave., Berkeley, proposed by H. C. Bryant. Also the names proposed at the Southern Division Novem- ber meeting were read. The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Henry W. Henshaw, Chief of the United States Bureau of Biological Survey, thank- ing the Club for its recent action in elect- ing him to honorary membership. Nominations for officers of the Division for the coming year resulted as follows: President, Tracy L Storer; Vice-president, H. W. Carriger; Secretary, Mrs. A. S. A1- len. H. C. Bryant, as Game Expert of the Cal- ifornia Fish and Game Commission, stated that the Commission was considering the placing of the American and Snowy egrets on the list of prohibited birds mentioned in collectors' licenses and stated that the Com- mission would appreciate any recommenda- tions which the Club might make along this line. After some discussion it was dec.ided upon motion by Mr. Bryant to have the