Letters, Announcements , ^c. 383 



gathered by the well-known collectors of the Smithsonian 

 Institution in different parts of the world. 



The Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College, 

 Cambridge, Mass. — The last report of this important scientific 

 establishment that has reached us (for 1877-78) gives a gra- 

 tifying account of its general progress, by Mr. Alexander 

 Agassiz, the curator. Mr. J. A. Allen^s special report on the 

 mammals and birds tells us that the " collection of birds has 

 been increased by the addition of 1200 skins (representing 

 about 400 species), 145 skeletons (about one fourth of them 

 mounted), 30 mounted skulls, 54 sterna and 12 other parts 

 of skeletons mounted separately, 936 eggs, and 195 nests, 

 altogether representing not less than 140 species. The acces- 

 sions in both these departments represent mainly species not 

 previously contained in the museum, and were selected gene- 

 rally with special reference to filling important deficiencies. 

 Several invoices have been received from the Rev. M. M. 

 Carleton, of Umballa, India, in the vicinity of which locality 

 they were collected. These, added to Mr. Carleton^s previ- 

 ous shipments, represent very fully the mammalian and avian 

 faunae of Northern India. Dr. T. M. Brewer, of Boston, has 

 also contributed many nests and eggs of European and Ame- 

 rican birds, most of the latter being those of rare species. 

 The oological department has been further enriched through 

 the purchase of several considerable lots of eggs and nests 

 collected in Colorado, California, and other parts of the west, 

 embracing a large number of rarities. 



Rare British Birds in the Zoological Society's Gardens. — 

 A small but interesting addition has lately been made to the 

 Zoological Society^s aviaries in the shape of an Alpine Ac- 

 centor [Accentor ulpi?ius), which has been received from a 

 correspondent in France. It is said to have been captured 

 near Marseilles. So far as we know, the Alpine Accentor has 

 never been seen alive in captivity before. Another ''rare 

 British bird" which may be seen in the Society's Gardens 

 at the present time is an example of Bewick's Swan [Cygnus 



