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Nov., I9O7 MINUTES OF COOPER CLUB MEETINGS 201 MINUTES OF COOPER CLUB MEETINGS NORTHERN DIVISION SEPTEMBER.--The September meeting of the Northern Division of the Cooper Ornitho- logical Club was held in the rooms of the Cal- ifornia Promotion Committee, Union Square, San Francisco, on Saturday evening, Septem- ber Dr. Frederick W. D'Evelyn, President of the Club, read a most interesting paper on the "Locust-eating Birds of the Transvaal". His paper, which will appear in THE CONDOR, was most acceptable in the reading by reason of the vein of dry humor ruuning thru his in- formal remarks in which he occasionally di- gressed as some incident of his life in South Africa was recalled. Dr. D'Evelyn was in South Africa in the days of the first Boer War in the early '8os. His memory of the bird life of those days has been verified by correspond- ence with British ornithologists now working over that region. Mi?s Bertha Chapman, Vice-President, pre- sented "A Plan to Widen the Scope of THE CONDOR". Miss Chapman pointed out that the teachers in this state in connection with their nature study work in birds have no publication to which they can refer for a simple description of the commonest local species. An eastern publication affords teachers of the Atlantic Coast and Mississippi Valley this information, but does not give the species needed by the California teacher for her-class room work. Some publication must sooner or later supply this demand. If THE CONDOR devoted a page or two in each issue with illustrations it would not only increase its circulation among teachers but would meet with as large a sale on the news stands as does the eastern publication. A discussion followed Miss Chapman's paper, as to ways and means of putting such a plan into effect. The conclusion reached, seemed to point to the adoption of THE CONDOR as the official organ for bird study by the State Board of Education, and with this increased subscrip- tion list, a salaried Editor and Business Mana- ger. After this discussion the Club held a short business session. The resignation of R. E. Shodgrass was accepted. Further election of members went over until the next meeting. Meeting adiourned. ROSWELL S. WHEELER, Secrelar..v. SOUTHERN DIVISION SEPTEMBER.--The postponed September meeting of the Cooper Club was called to order by President Morcom, in the Faculty Room, Throop Polytechnic Institute, Pasadena, Cal., Thurs. evening, Oct. Io,with the following visitors present: Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Vernon Bailey, Mrs. Vernon Bailey, Mrs. Elizabeth Grinnel,, Mrs. Joseph Grinnell, President Chamberlain and Dean B. F. Stacey of Throop Institute, Walter Richardson, Mrs. C. E. Cosper and Lloyd Cosper; and members Miss Olga S. Tar- bell, J. Grinnell, O. W. Howard, Lee Cham- bers, V. W. Owen, Prof. Loye Holmes Miller, M. French Gilman, H. T. Clifton, W. B. Jud- son, C. E. Cosper, Alphonse and Antonin Jay, Walter Taylor, W. Chamberlain, Chas. Rich- ardson, Jr., and Law. Applications for membership were proposed: R. Magoon Barnes, Lacon, Illinois, by W. Lee Chambers, and Cyril H. Bretherton, 622 Bryson Bldg., Los Angeles, California, by J. Eugene Law. In accordance with the By-laws, action on these was deferred till next meeting. The matter of an outing meeting was referred by motion to Messrs. Motcorn, Lelande and Law, with authority to make all arrangements to have an outing in October. Dr. C. Hart Merriam was then introduced by Mr. Morcom and spoke at length, giving many interesting anecdotes of bird and bird-observ. ing life. Dr. Merriam has just returned from the Klamath Lake region, where he has been doing Biological Survey work. Few of our California ornithologists are as familiar with the topography and plant and animal life of the length and breadth of the state as is Dr. Merriam, and his opportunities for observation in the long period he has been at biological field work have been exceptional. He usually arrives in California from the East for active field work in July, and we all know of his zone boundary investigations. Not the least interesting were his stories of Indian bird-lore. It seems that Indian legends having to do with birds and how certain characteristics were ac- quired, are very rich, and Dr. Merriam has no end of interesting stories at his tongue's end. Before closing he took occasion to emphasize the value of the work being accomplished by the bird student who learns his own locality and records the habits of its birds year after year under similar conditions. Mr. Vernon Bally gave a short talk abont his work with Dr. Merriam, but the lateness of the hour cheated us out of the longer talk we had hoped for. Mr. Bailey drew special attention to the interesting problems which Southern California presents in bird distribution, owing to its abundance of mountains, passes, coast line and country between. Mr. Morcom, in calling on Dr. Merriam, emphasized a prece- dent long since become a custom, and that is, that our always-welcome ornithological visitors only have one condition exacted from them-- that of cheerfully answering the dozens of questions we are sure to ask them. Mr. Virgil Owen exhibited a few interesting screech owl skins from Arizona, including some of the smaller forms. Adjourned. J. EUGENI? LAW, Secrelary.