Letters, Announcements, S^c. 117 



One hundred and fifty-nine specimens from King Williara^s 

 Town ; presented by Lieutenant H. Trevelyan. 



Thirty-three specimens from the same locality ; presented 

 by Lieutenant Anstey. 



Twenty Warblers and Chats from the Transvaal ; presented 

 by Dr. Henry Exton. of Bloemfontein. 



Sixty-nine specimens from Abeoknta, including the type of 

 Amadina sharpii ; presented by F. Nicholson, Esq. 



The Swinhoe Collection. — We are happy to be able to in- 

 form oiu" readers that Mr. Seebohm has bought the remainder 

 of the late Mr. Swinhoe^s collection. Hitherto the skins 

 have been kept in boxes, a most destructive and reprehen- 

 sible method for small birds, resulting in the gradual abra- 

 sion of their plumage and in the breaking of their necks. 

 They will now be placed in shallow drawers, on the plan 

 adopted by all scientific ornithologists who take a pride 

 in the preservation of their treasures. This still valuable 

 collection will be placed in Tenterden Street, and will be 

 available, as it has hitherto been, to all students interested 

 in Chinese ornithology. Many of Swinhoe's types are un- 

 fortunately missing ; some have been sold, and others lent and 

 not returned. Some of the most interesting series of birds 

 have also entirely disappeared from the same causes. In the 

 interests of science it is very desirable that this unique col- 

 lection should be made as complete as possible ; and we venture 

 to appeal to the ornithological patriotism of those who may 

 be able to assist in effecting this object, and to ask those who 

 have in their possession borrowed skins to return them to 

 Mr. Seebohm. We have also this gentleman^s authority for 

 stating that from those who have pui'chased from the late Mr. 

 Swinhoe any skins belonging to any of the missing series 

 he is prepared to repurchase them at a handsome profit if 

 they will replace them in the collection, or to give ample ex- 

 change either in skins or eggs, which his Siberian and other 

 collections enable him so well to do. 



