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July, 1914 EDITORIAL NOTES AND NEWS 185 Oregon Fish and Game Commission, and the United States Department of Agriculture. Mr. Vernon Bailey, of the United States Bio- logical Survey, is directing the field opera- tions. Mr. Tracy I. Storer, Secretary of the Northern Division, C. O. C., is giving a course on "The Birds of California" during the Summer Session of the University of California, June 22 to August 1, 1914. The course consists of lectures upon the more general phases of the subject, field work with the birds found on the campus, and laboratory study of specimens contained in the University collections. At the recent meeting of the Pacific Asso- ciation of Scientific Societies at the Univer- sity of Washington, Seattle, a small but en- thusiastic band of Cooper Club members met and considered matters of interest to ornith- ologists in the Pacific Northwest. The ?lub is indebted to Professor George r. Sykes, of the Oregon Agricultural College, for arous- ing interest and arranging for the meeting. Mr. George Willett is spending the summer on Forrester Island, southeastern Alaska, where he is acting as warden of the Federal Bird Reservation constituted by ?hat island. Mr. A. C. Bent toured the western states during the spring and early summer gather- ing material for his "Life Histories of North American Birds." While in California he made a special point of visiting various bird collections, both public an.d private, for the purpose of examining specimens of water- birds showing molt. Mr. Adriaan van Rossem collected in parts of Kern County, California, during the spring months, in the interests of the Mail- liards. Among the specimens sent in is something brand-new in the red-winged blackbird line, announcement of which will shortly be made by Mr. Joseph MaillinEd. Parts of May and June were spent by Mr. Chas. L. Camp in exploring zoologically the eastern section of the Mohave Desert center- ing at Turtle Mountain. The resulting maps, notes and specimens have been contributed by Mr. Camp to the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. It is a satisfaction to be able to announce in these columns that California is to have a state-wide campaign against the impend- ing referendum, and threatened initiative, which have for their combined object the legalization of the marketing of all game and fish. Authoritative testimony, among the sources of which is no less an institu- tion than the United States Department of Agriculture, insists that free marketing can only lead to the prompt extermination of our wild game species. The proposed cam- paign will be under the immediate manage- merit of Mr. Walter P. Taylor, whose pre- vious experience in conservation work brings confidence that success will attend his efforts now. A considerable fund has been placed at Mr. Taylor's disposal for the purpose of defteying the cost of the various measures planned to secure publicity. In- deed, such a campaign as this, resolves it- self into a matter of educating the public as to the facts in the case and correct inter- pretations therefrom. The campaign will occupy the three full months immediately preceding the November election, and Mr. Taylor's headquarters will be at the Califor- nia Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berke- ley. COMMUNICATIONS THE CONDOR: A MAGAZINE OF VERTE- BRATE NATURAL HISTORY? Shall the scope of THE CONDOR be extend- ed to cover mammals, reptiles and amphibi- ans, as well as birds? An informal vote from Cooper Club nfembers is hereby re- quested by the undersigned. The proposition will not be presented for formal considera- tion before the two Divisions of the Club unless a straw vote indicates general con- sent among all Cooper Club members. The following ideas bearing on the propositio. n have occurred to the writer. There is now no one medium for the pub- lication of natural history notes concerning all these vertebrate classes. Interest in other vertebrate groups than birds would tend to be developed in our spe- cialized bird students, and a knowledge of birds would be brought to the attention of specialists in the other groups. The broad- ened horizon would be to the advantage of all. Interrelations, ecologic and economic, be- tween the several vertebrate classes are so close that to secure a general familarity with all assists to a better understanding of any one of them. Many of the problems in bird study will be more efficiently handled upon a basis of knowledge outside the group as well as within it. THE CONDOR would become of interest to a much wider circle of readers. The circula- tion would be correspondingly extended. The increased subscription list would war- rant increased size of the magazine, so that eventually there would be added bulk. We would then have a more important and val- uable magazine, provided always that an ideal standard of scientific accuracy com- bined with general interest be striven for. The total amount of ornithological matter would not be diminished, except as subject to fluctuations resulting from the varying supply of suitable contributions. As a vehicle o{ conservation propaganda, THE CONDOR Of expanded scope would become more useful than at present, because game