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 Jan., 9o7 MINUTES 31 pigeon. The origin of the barred wing-pattern is thought to have been from the uniformly checkered style. Both patterns, by the way, occur among domestic pigeons ! Several sources of evidence are adduced to lead to this conclusion. One is that different wings (of Columba livia) may be arranged so as to show uninterrupted gradation from one extreme to the other. Another source of evi- dence is obtaiued by comparing in a similar way different wild species. We venture to sug- gest that neither of these sources of evidence show anything as to the direction of variation thru time,' and this, it seems to us, would be the crucial point to be proven. Another source of evidence is based upon the axiomatically-accepted idea that the male plumage is the most specialized (farthest evolved), the female next, and the juvenal least (that is, most primitive). This sequence, ap- parently in harmony with the orthogenetic theory, is shown in the wing-patterns of many wild species of pigeons, and Professor Whit- man places much value upon this as indicating the direction of the development of the char- acters. But we would obiect that it seems iust as clear, in a great many species of birds, that the juvena! plumage is the sperialized one (for the sake of protection), the female often as much, or nearly as much, specialized (and for a similar reason), and the male, therefore, the most 5en~ eralized/ This reverse theory accords better with the demands for survival, and would therefore be explainable by natural selection. There are many adaptive structures in the young, lost in the adult because useless; for in- stance, the calcareous nodule on the tip of the chick's bill. Ontogeny does not repeat phylo- geny in every detail. The best point in proof of the theory of orthogenesis was obtained thru the breeding and selection of tame pigeons. It was found that artificial selection could accomplish the reduction of the number of checkers, but would never lead from bars to checkers. The author concludes from this that "the direction of evo- lution can never be reversed." Hence the direction of evolution in the present case is from the checkered pattern towards the barred. As there seems to be no significance at present for these markings (either directire or protect- ive), they appear to the author to exhibit an instance of orthogenesis. We must confess that, while we do see several such cases of traits exhibited in progressive series (if properly arranged), we do not clearly see evidence of an active variation thru time in any one direction. We are pleased to remark that Professor Whitnmn, after careful consideration, concedes but little probability to the frequent occurrence of mutations, according to the theories upheld by Hugo de Vries. Mutation, the abrupt ap- pearance of new species without gradual suc- cessive and continuous transitional stages, must be rare among birds, if it occurs at all. However, we cannot here take space to carry on a discussion of the problem of the origin of species, which is still the greatest problem in biology. What a field there is in ornithology for the student of evolution! The very fact that birds have been so thoroly worked sys- tematically and geographically is all the more reason why this is a particularly advantageous field for such studies. And yet we hear of young men at college being advised to direct themselves to investigation in any other group than birds: "Birds are too well worked"!-- MINUTES OF COOPER CLUB MEETINGS IgORTH F, RBI DIVISIOBI NOVEMBER.--The Club met November 24, x9o6, in the Barbara Jordan Library of Orni- thology at Stanford University, California. Vice-president Fisher occupied the chair. The mhmtes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The following proposa!s for membership were made: John W. Martin, 339 N. First St., San Jose, Cal., by D. A. Cohen; Miss Flora A. Randolf, x7o6 Walnut St., Berke- ley, Cal., by D. A. Cohen; Prof. O. P. Jenkins, Stanford University, Cal., by H. O. Jenkins. The following were elected to active mem- bership: Chas. Reiuing, 6or Webster St., Palo Alto, Cal.; 1'. W. Weymouth, 36 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto, Cal.; John E. Thayer, Lancaster, Mass.; Henry F. Duprey, 9t9 Morgan St., Santa Rosa, Cal. Nominations for officers for x9o7 were made as follows: President, Dr. F. W. D'Evelyn; senior vice-president, Bertha L. Chapman: junior vice-president, Rollo H. Beck; treasurer, H. T. Clifton; secretary, H. O. Jenkins. The program was now taken up. Prof. V.L. Kellogg favored the Club with an interesting resume of his forth-coming work on the Mallo~ phaga, touching particularly ou the peculiar distribution and habits, and the resulting for- mation of species, of these external bird para- sites. N.K. Carpenter read a paper entitled, "A Season with the Pacific Horned Owl", and brought out some very interesting facts in re- gard to the life history of this bird. Mrs. Park then spoke to the Club concerning the passage of a Bird and Arbor Day Bill in the California Legislature. Thereupon the follow- ing resolutions were adopted: WHEREAS it has come to the knowledge of the Cooper Ornithological Club that an effort will be made to estab- lish in the State of California, by act of Legislature, a Bird and Arbor Day, to be observed by the Public School children; and WIfEF, E.4. S, the observance of this day is Ilot to be made