1899.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA, 



A STUDY OF THE TYPE SPECIMENS OF BIRDS IN THE COLLECTION OF 



THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 



WITH A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COLLECTION. 



BY WITMER STONE. 



The ornithological collection of the Academy of Natural Sci- 

 ences of Philadelphia has long been known as one of the largest 

 and most important in the world. It was reported by Dr. P. L. 

 Sclater in 1857 to be " superior to that of any museum in Europe 

 and therefore the most perfect in existence."^ 



Early ornithological activity in America naturally centred 

 around this collection, and we find the names of all our earlier 

 oruithologi.sts connected with the Academy specimens, while the 

 majority of their publication.^ appeared in the Proceed'ui(j-< of tlie 

 society. 



Having been engaged for some years in cataloguing the collection 

 and in identifying the type specimens which it contains, I wish to 

 present in the present contribution the results of my investigations 

 in order to record exactly what types are preserved, aud the prob- 

 able history of others Avhich were supposed to be in this collection. 

 The collection of birds was begun soon after the foundation of the 

 Academy in 1812, and l^y the year 1887 contained about 1,000 

 specimens ; these were contributed by various members, among 

 whom Dr. Harlan, Dr. Trudeau aud J. K. Townsend are best 

 known to ornithologists, though Dr. Thomas McEwen seems to 

 have been most active in the care of the collection. 



Daring the succeeding ten years the additions amounted to about 

 550 specimens, received from John Cassin, S. F. Baird, A. L, 

 Heermann, S. W, AVoodhouse, Dr. Watson and R. C. Taylor. 



In 1846 Dr. Thomas B. "Wilson, afterwards President of the 

 Academy, became interested in the collection, and took steps to 

 enlarge it at his own expense. He entered into arrangements with 

 a European dealer to furnish him with specimens of such species 



^ Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1857, p. 1, "Notes on the Birds in the Museum 

 of the Acad, of Nat. Sci. Phila." An interesting account of the collection. 



