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San., 1916 EDITORIAL NOTES AN?) ?EWS 37 conjointly carrie? on by Joseph Grinnell, Walter P. Taylor, and Tracy I. Storer, staff- members of the Museum of Vertebrate Zool- ogy, assisted by several graduate students from the natural science departments of the University of California and of Stan- ford ?Jniversity. These assistants included Charles L. Camp, Charles D. Holliger and Gordon F. Ferris. In addition, Mr. Joseph Dixon, who has recently joined the staff of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, spent some weeks in the field during the late fall. The expenses of the work are being de- frayed in major part from private sources, most notably through special gift from Miss Annie M. Alexander. This benefactor is thus to be credited with 'actuating much of the natural history fieldwork now going on in California. The Editor was recently privileged to look over the private collections of Mr. Donald R. Dickey of Pasadena and was astonished at their extent and especially the great care displayed in their preparation and housing. These collections consisted not only of study-skins of birds and mammals, but also of large series of high-class photographs, betokening great patience and ingenuity in field-work. Truly excellent autochrome pic- tures of living birds marked the latest ad- vance in the art of photography. Numbers of reels of movies, taken of both birds and mammals, showed the highest degree of per- fection in this difficult field. Yet, withal, Mr. Dickey.'s modesty has thus far retarded publication of most of his work. We have reason to believe, however, that before long through certain channels bird students will come to know of Mr. Dickey's work to their distinct benefit and enjoyment. In a recent paper published in the Ottawa Naturalist (vol. XXlX, 1915, pp. 14-18, 21- 28), Mr. P. A. Taverner sets forth some very sound principles of ornithological prac- tice. His title, "Suggestions for ornitholog- ical work in Canada", would appear to in- dicate restriction in scope; but, in fact, the ideas are in large measure applicable in any country. Two or three paragraphs may be quoted here as samples of the sane things said. "There is also a sentiment against the scientist collecting 'rare birds' on the sup- position that if these were allowed to breed they would become common. There are practically no birds, but game, raptorial and plumage forms, that suffer systematic per- secution. The number of small or rare birds that are killed by human agencies, ex- cept for profit or food, is on the average negligible. Are there a dozen people in Canada, seeking or hunting for Cory's Least Bittern? How many would know one if they saw it? The species has had hundreds of generations in which to become common; if they are rare now it is due to the action of still operating natural causes. The rari- ty of a creature not especially or generally hunted for profit is an indication that it is not adapted to conditions and is nearing ex- tinction through natural causes. Rarity ob- viously just precedes extinction." "It must be borne in mind that our bird population is limited by natural conditions. In most cases 'this limit was reached long ago, and no more birds can inhabit North America than can find support during the season of least food supply. In a normal or stationary population, the death rate must equal the birth rate or else the population ceases 'to be stationary. The breeding sea- son increases the population enormously and one way or another this increase must be, and is, reduced to the smaller suport- ing power of the land through winter. "It is evident that this allows of a consid- erable margin of reduction' and shows that even quite considerable numbers can be de- stroyed without interfering with the ulti- mate numbers of the population and that the comparatively few individuals taken by col- lectors cannot have an appreciable effect upon their number." PUBLICATIONS REVIEWED WILD BIRD GUESTS ] how to entertain them I with chapters on the destruction of birds [ their economic and aesthetic values I suggestions for dealing with their I enemies, and on the organiza- I tion and management of bird clubs ] By ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES [ with 50 photogravure illustrations ] from photographs New York [ E. P. Dutton & Company [ 1915 [ . Pp. xviii-]-326, unnum- bered plates as above. ($2.00.) The author and publishers are to be con- gratulated on the production of this remark- able book. The reader at once receives an impression of high quality, to which a num- ber of factors are contributory. Among these is the artistic make-up of the book. The typography could hardly .be improved upon, and the photogravures, many of which are of living birds or mammals, are excel- lent. The personality of the author himself is without doubt ? large element of attrac- tion. Especially worthy of remark are his modesty, and his cordial appreciation of the work of others In behalf of conservation. Indicative of his quality of appreciation of the contributions of other workers are the following quotations (pp. 310, 311): "The author... proffers his thanks... to none more gratefully than to those scien- tific men in Washington and elsewhere, upon whose patient, accurate, but often un- appreciated work, some of the strongest pleas for bird conservation are based." "When an unbiased history of American wild bird conservation is written, there. will be few names which stand out with greater prominence than that of Edward Howe For- bush, who never pauses in his work to tell the world that it is he who is doing it."