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EC. 



tinued desire of tliis talented and accomplislied young natnralist to serve lliis 

 Academy. 



Will. Gambel, M. D., has presented numerous specimens, among which are 

 suites of specimens of IVIerula minor (Gm.), Wilsonii (Bonap.), and olivaceus 

 Giraud.), and other obscure American species; in the study and elucidation of 

 which he has been eminently successful. 



A.L. Meerman, M. D., has presented a large collection of eggs, collected by him 

 in Florida, and numerous specimens of birds from the same locality. Of the letter 

 I may enumerate as possessing especial interest, several specimens of Cymindis 

 hamatus. Less., Vireo longirostris, Sw, Thalasseus regius, Gambel, Sternuia 

 frenata, Gambel, and also numerous specimens of Ardea rufescens, Gm., and of 

 Ardea Pealei, Bonap., representing various stases of plumage, and demonstrating 

 that the latter is a distinct species as originally described by Mr. Bonaparte. 



W. S. Jones, M. D., of Riceboro, Georgia, has deposited the original and yet 

 unique specimen of Picus Lecontei, Jones, a curious little tridactyle species dis- 

 covered by him in Georgia, and possessing great interest as an addition to the 

 fauna of this country. 



Another addition to our fauna, the Anas Rafflesii, King, has been made this 

 year, by E. Pihite, M. D., of Opelousas, Louisiana, a specimen of which, being 

 the first ever observed within the limits of the United States, has been presented 

 by him to this Society. 



A specimen of Strix flammea, Linn., from Western Africa, very interesting on 

 account of its locality, has been presented b^ our esteemed correspondent Mr. 

 George N. Lawrence, of New York. 



The Academy has also to acknowledge its indebtedness to Mrs. John B. Smith 

 of this city, for a beautiful specimen of Nycthemerus pictus, (Linn.), to C. 

 Wistar, M. D., for an interesting specimen of a dwarf variety of the common fowl; 

 to Mr. William Ayr for a specimen of the Egretta alba, (Linn) — to our valued 

 associate Mr. Samuel Ashmead for various specimens collected by him at Cape 

 May; to John G. Howard for two living specimens of Columba cyaiioccphala, 

 Linn., brought by him from Cuba, expressly for the Academy, and for other 

 donations. 



One of the most remarkable as well as valuable additions recently made to the 

 Ornithological colh'ction is the extensive collection of nests and eggs formed by 

 Mons. 0. des Murs, of Paris, author of the " Iconographie Ornithologique," now 

 in the course of publication, and well known as an Ornithologist. This splendid 

 collection, like nearly the whole of the present contents of our Ornithological 

 galleries, came into possession of this Society through the influence of Messrs. 

 Thomas B. and Edward Wilson. It embraces no less than 3450 specimens, being 

 the eggs of 1281 species, from all parts of the world, in very perfect condition, 

 many of which are to be obtained only with great difficulty. 



I may be allowed to state in connexion with this subject, that Mr Gould's 

 collection of eggs previously alluded to, contains 976 specimens, or 303 species. 

 The entire collection now in the Museum of the Academy, is but partially 

 arranged, but deducting duplicates, it may safely be estimated as containing the 

 eggs of about 1<J00 species, about 1200 of which are named. 



I consider it proper to state here, that in the arrangement of the collection 

 lesultipg from the combination of those above mentioned, the collection previously 



