462 Letters, Announcements, &^c. 



tions from the collections of Mr. Brooks, Major Butler, Mr. 

 Gates, Capt. Bingham, and others of the band of workers 

 who contributed by their labours to the publication of the 

 eleven volumes of 'Stray Feathers.'' Then there is the fine 

 collection of Darjeeling birds made by the late Mr. Man- 

 delli, besides hundreds of other interesting specimens from 

 all parts of the British Asian Empire. The richness of the 

 efifff-collection is well known from Mr. Hume's notes on 

 the 'Nests and Eggs ot Indian Birds,' while the number of 

 specimens speaks volumes for its extent and value. 



" It is not too much to affirm that such a private collection 

 as Mr. Hume's is not likely to be formed again ; for it is 

 doubtful if such a combination of genius for organization 

 with energy for the completion of so great a scheme, and 

 the scientific knowledge requisite for its proper development, 

 will again be combined in a single individual, 



" I have now explained how the Hume collection was packed 

 with all speed to get it out of India into England, where 

 moth and rust do corrupt, it is true, but not with such 

 rapidity as in the moist climate of Simla during the^rains. 

 Time did not allow of sorting specimens, or of packing 

 them in any order of classification, and therefore the whole 

 work of rearranging the collection will have to be done in 

 England. I shall do my best to get through this as speedily 

 as possible, in order that Mr. Hume's princely donation 

 may be rendered available for the purposes of science. 

 The arrangement will doubtless be facilitated by the care 

 with which the specimens are labelled ; but still it is best 

 to recognize the fact that its incorporation in the general 

 collection of birds at the Natural History Museum must be 

 a work of some years. 



The Development of the Avla?i Sternum. — A remarkable 

 memoir on the development of the sternum in Birds, prepared 

 by Miss Beatrice Lindsay, of Girton College, and communi- 

 cated to the Zoological Society of London by Dr. H, Gadow 

 at their meeting on June 16th last, will appear in the forth- 

 coming number of the Society's ' Proceedings.' Miss Lindsay, 



