Mar., t9ot I THE CONDOR 49 that was causing so much trouble. The Lintbless Lizard, as its name implies, is destitute of legs. It lives from a few inches to several feet under the earth (usually in sandy soil) and is found most frequently. in the vicinity of the small bushes of Lupinus arboreus. It has never been observed above soil, and if the shrike has learned to dig the creatures out, then the shrike is possessed of much patience, and the lizards have a formidable enemy. I have often wondered what animals prey upon thein. Nothing is known of their life history. Mr. Wm. L. Atkinson, inT[-xE CONDOR III, page tx, suggests that Lanius lttdovicianus gambeli does not return to eat impaled food after having once left it. I was of this opinion till last summer (Aug. 8, t9oo,) when I noted something to the contrary in Sierra Valley, Cal., (near the town of Vinton, Plumas Co.) The bird in question was, however, Lanius ludovicianus execubitorides. I copy essen- tially what I wrote at the time. "While setting some mammal traps this afternoon I was surprised to see a Lanius fly into a sage-brush bush only a few feet from me. It hunted about for a moment till it found an intpaled grasshopper, which was first carefully tasted and then quickly bolted. The shrike then flew away, but return- ed at once and 'tasted' the little twig upon which the grasshopper had been im- paled. This it did twice, then whet its its beak vigorously and flew to the top- most twig of the bush, fluffing itself into a round ball. WALTER K. FroHER, Stanford Univ., Cal. On the eneric Name of the Californian Condor. Readers of THE CONDOR may be in- terested to learn that as early as ?842 the Californian bird was separated generically from the South American species. In that year Lesson began an "Index Ornithologique" which appear- ed in numerous installments in a Parisian journal, L'Echo du monde savant and in the initial part of this "Index" he distinguished the Califor- nian Condor under the name G. ymno?yps, which name, owing to the rarity of the journal in which it appeared, has been buried for over half a century. Gymnog?yps, having many years priority over Pseudo.ryphus, will be- come the proper generic term for Vnltur cal,fornianus Shaw, the reference being, Gg,mnq?yps Lesson, L'Echo du monde savant, ser 2, VI, no. 44, Dec. 8, x842, col m37. This "Echo" was is- sued about three times a week from x834-?846, and contains many new generic and specific names of birds. I have been able to consult only part of the series (?838-x843) and would be agreeably surprised to see the remain- der. Anv one who may wish to sur- prise me should send a copy to the National Museum, Washington, D.C. CHARLES W. RICHMOND. We regret being compelled to crowd out the January and March minutes of the Northern l)ivision which will appear in May. However Club members may be informed of some re- cent actions:--ttm Club's Bird Bill has been passed by the Seuate and has every prospect of passing the Assembly; the Club expects to incorporate at once and members may guage its prosperity by the fact that 2x new members were elected on March 2. Mr. Joseph Grinnell, we hear, is to give a course in general ornithology the coming sum- ruer at the Hopkins Seaside Laboratory. This course conducted under the auspices of Stan- ford University, will aim to present the classi- fication, characteristic anatomy, and habits of birds, particular attention being paid to those about Monterey Bay. We note with much pleasure that The Osprey has commenced the Biographies of American Birds projected two years ago by Dr. Gill. Our joy is tinged with sadness, however, when we reflect that The Osprey can not complete, with justice to the subject, more than six bio- graphies a year, and hence the series not be- fore A. D. 2o3o!
