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 I46 THE CONDOR Vol. II THE CONDOR. Bulletin of the COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 01' CAIII*ORIIIA. 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. DNALD A. COHEN, -- Alameda, Cal., H. S. SWARTH, 5[2 Coronado St., Los Angeles. Business Managers. Subscription, (in advance) - One Dollar a Year. Single Copies, - ...... 25 Cents. Six Copies or more of one issue, x2 Cents Each. Foreign Subscription, - ..... $ .25. Free to Honorary Members and to Active Members not in arrears tbr dues. Advertising rates will be sent on application. Advertisements and subscriptions should be sent to the Business Managers. Exchanges should be sent to the Editor-in-Chief. Entered at the Santa Clara Post-office as second class matter. This issue of The Condor was mailed l1ov, x6. EDITORIAL NOTES. The A. 0. U. We learn from an excellent edi- Associate torial in Bird-Lore for October that the American Ornithologists' Membership Union Congress and a conference of representatives of the Audubon Societies will meet simultaneously in Cambridge, Mass. about Nov. I2, the idea being to promote a closer unity between the two associations, such as should exist between the parent and pupil, the editorial pointing out that the Audubon Societies' object is "to arouse interest in the study of birds, in short to raake ornithologists," while "it is the province of the A. O. U. to en- roll them in its membership, after the school day period has passed, and sustain their inter- est ..... which comes from association with others having kindred tastes." All of which will racet the approval of ornithologists gen- erally. The editorial mentioned quotes from Mr. McGregor's communication in the July-August CONDOR (p. 93) in which Mr. McGregor sug- gests the separation into two classes, of the associate membership of the A. O. U., one to include bona fide amateur ornithologists, the other to take in those who have affiliated them- selves with the Union as merely a step of pro- gression, with no thought of engaging in technical work. Bir#-Lore commends the idea, but at the same time counsels fairness of opinion betveen the technical ornithologists and the purely Auduboninn membership. We believe frankly that such adverse feeling as may exist between these more or less widely divergent branches of the associate membership of the A. O. U.,--be it either imaginary or de aclo is due as much to the uncompromising spirit of ninny of the Auduboninns as to that of the active bird men. For several years past Coast ornithologists at least, have viewed the Auduboninns as a class unalterably opposed to the killing of birds. This sentiment cropped out strongly when Dr. Cones edited the mem- orable Osprey, at which time general condem- nation was heaped upon those writers who mentioned "takes" of either birds or eggs in their articles. The condemnation was justified in a few cases, but the circumstance impressed many as being a campaign of opera glass vs. gun, with judgment and fairhess omitted. Thus we be- lieve that the 'amateur ornithological' class have dealt as kindly as they have been dealt with. It must be considered that in the West, especially, the taking of birds is a necessity to work out the various geographical variations, and the occasions arise for the collecting of a much greater number of birds than might be deemed justifiable in the East. Those on the ground must perforce judge of these conditions. Should the associate membership of the A. O. U. eventually be divided into two classes as suggested, it is highly desirable that harmony prevail, but it is unreasonable to hint that the fault lies more with the technical ornithologists than elsewhere. Both classes are doing good work but differ as to method, and the "mutual respect" suggested by Tird-Lore can come about only by each class being allowed its proper freedom. The separation of the A. O. U. asso- ciate membership into two classes, as primarily suggested by Mr. McGregor, seems more or less certain to be brought about in the near future. Bird-Lore suggests that a class of "senior associates" limited to zoo, be created. This would probably be sufficient and we shall hope to see such action taken. 6oopcr For a long time it has been an 61b's acknowledged fact that California has not possessed protective bird Bird laws, aside from its game laws, worthy Bill the name. At present a few laws grace the statute books intended to protect a linlited category of birds, which are designated in a ver7. general way as English skylarks, ori- oles, wdd canaries, cranes (meaning herons) etc. It seems very doubtful if such a law would hold in a test case and little or no effort has been made to enforce it. Accordingly the necessity and advisability for more stringent protective laws have arisen and it seems not inappropriate that the fight should be taken up by the Cooper Ornithologi- cal Club, since ks efforts are and have been closely allied wkh the progress of ornithology in the State in recellt years. This course has therefore been decided upon, and the sweeping bird protection bill which Senator E. K. Taylor will champion in the State Legislature in Janu- ary, is to be given final conskteration aL the November meetings of both divisions of the Club. The bill will then have been perfected, as viewed from any reasonable stamtpoint, and the concerted action of the Club's ulembeship will be called into play in the maLter of urging favorable acdou upon the part of the various