Page:CooperBull1(6).djvu/17

 BULLETIN OF THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB x x 7 General News Notes. A NOTABLE EGG COLLEC. TION. It may prove of'interest to western oologists to learn that during the past few months two Californian collections have changed hands. The extensive collection of H. R. Taylor has been broken up and the greater part. of it ac- quired by Miss Jean Bell of Ridley Park, Penn. Recently the entire private collection of C. Barlow has passed into Miss Bell's possession, the owner feeling that the completion of the collection had been rendered difficult by an entire absence of time to secure and add new species. The features of the Barlow collection were its raptores, select sets with nests, and a fine representation of Fatallone species. It is interesting to note the extent of the very choice oological collection now possessed by Miss Bell, as it is perhaps the largest and most valuable private collection in the United States. Into this superb collection have been absorbed the private cabinets of Messrs. Josiah Hoopes, Isaac Reiff, H. K. Jamison, J. W. Preston, Watson Bishop and C- Barlow besides over ooo selected sets froIn the gollection of Thos. H. Jackson and several hundred choice sets from H. R. Taylor's collection. The collection is finely represented in rap- tores, containing among other good things series of Everglade Kite, Sharp-shinned and Broad-winged Hawks with nests, Canada Jays, Ravens, rare Sparrows etc. Interesting in- dividual sets are Solitary. Sandpiper x-5 (unique) and California Vulture. 848 species and sub-species on the A. O. U. check-list are represented in the collection, which is con- rained in a special museum building built pur- posely to receive it and to which has recently been added an extension to accommodate newly acquired specimens. An interesting eve,t occurred at noon on Sunday, October xS, when Mr. Chester Barlow, editor of the Cooper Ornithological Club's BULLETIN, and Miss Jeannette E. Nicholls were united in marriage at the home of the bride's parents in San Jose, California. Miss Minnie Winter acted as maid of honor and Miss Marie Williams as bridesmaid, the groom being attended by H. R. Taylor. The cere- mony was performed by Rev. C. J. Thompson, in the presence of relatives and a few intimate friends of tt,e family. The bride is one of the nost charming young ladies for which the "Garden City" of the state is noted. The groom holds a responsible position in the Santa Clara Valley Bank, and has a host of friends in and out of scientific lines who will wish the couple many happy years. After December they will make their home in Santa Clara. Among the choice gifts was a handsome dinner set of I-Iaviland china from tt, e North- ern Division of the Cooper Ornithological Club, of which Mr. Barlow has been the pop- ular secretary for over six years. The present- ation, a complete surprise, was accompanied by autographic congratulations from the mem- bers, bonnd into a unique souvenir, beautiful- ly designed by Otto Emerson and artistically inscribed as follows: "With compliments and all felicitous wishes to our good friend, our honorable secretary and editor, Chester Barlow, on his happy ac- cession of t Bird of Paradise! From the North- ern Division of the Cooper Ornithological Club of California, October t5, x899." To which the editorial associate, having here for once personally asserted his prerogative, can add or detract nothing. H.R.T. The expedition sent out to the Yukon River district by the Biological Survey in charge of Messrs. Wilfred H. Osgood and A. G. Maddieu, and accompanied by Dr. L. B. Bishop, has re- turned and Mr. Osgood has been spending a few days at his former home in San Jose. With the exception of being capsized near Circle City and losing all their collecting equipage save their specimens, the party had few mishaps and accomplished. much work of permanent value. Tl,e northern range of many species was very materially extended. Mr. Osgood left for Washington Oct. 29. Word has been received fron, Joseph Grin- nell who has spent the past eighteen months on the Kowak river in the Kotzebne Sound region, Alaska, above the Arctic circle. They were ten and a half months without comnmni- cation with the outside world. On July 9 their little craft, the "Penelope," broke through the ice of Kotzebue Sound on its way to Cape Nome where they arrived three weeks later. Here the party will remain until late in September, stopping at Dutch Harbor, in the Aleutian islands on their way home. A great mass of material of rare interest has been collected and numerous notes and facts recorded, which cannot but delight the ornith- ological world. Mr. Grinnell's reputation for accuracy of observation and indomitable en- ergy is well known and the results of his ex- plorations in this heretofore unknown region will not only redound to his credit, but to that of the Cooper Ornithological Club, of which he is an active member, ag well.