1^99.] xatukal sciences of philadelphia. 27 



Samcel N. Rhoads. 



Parus hudsonicus columbianus Rhoads. 



Pants hudso/iicus columbianus Rhoads. Auk, 1893, p. 23. 



31,493. (J" Field, B. C. Aug. 30, 1892. Coll. S. N. Rhoads. Tiji)e. 



John Cassin. 



As the ornithologist of the Academy for over tweuty-five years 

 of its greatest ornithological activity, it is not surprising that Cassin 

 described more new species from the collection than any one else, 

 nor is it a matter of wonder that with such a collection constantly 

 at hand he pursued his studies among the birds of all parts of the 

 world Avith equal freedom. Cassin' s publications consisted mainly 

 of his papers in the Proceedings and Journal of the Academy. 



Besides these he published the Birds of California and Texas, 

 Birds of the Japan Expedition,^ U. S. Astronomical Expedition,^" 

 the second edition of the Birds of the U. S. Exploring Expedition, 

 and contributed the Kaptores, Grallre and Alcidie to Baird's Birds 

 of North America. 



The types of new species described in the Government publica- 

 tions are all in the National Museum, while the vast majority of 

 those described in these Proceedings are in the Academy collection. 

 In a fe-.v of the species described in the latter, as well as those in 

 the Bii-ds of California and Texas, he frequently says " specimens 

 in the Acad., Phila., and Nat. Mus., AVash.," which occasions 

 some ambiguity. In such cases I have given preference to the Acad- 

 emy specimens as being probably those before him at the time of 

 writing, especially when these are labelled by Cassin himself, but 

 in some instances, as seen below% the National Museum specimens 

 have the better claim. 



A word of explanation as to Cassin' s connection with the Birds 

 of the U. S. Exploring Expedition may not be out of place, as the 

 matter is not generally clearly understood. 



The original report was prepared by Titian R. Peale, who accom- 

 panied the expedition, but only ninety copies of this work were 

 issued. These which were distributed to the leading libraries but 

 without plates. Subsequently, in consideration of the impor- 

 tance of the work, a new report was prepared by Cassin, accom- 

 panied by a volume of plates which had been originally intended 

 to accompany the first edition. 



'* In tliese reports no new species are proposed. 



