THE IBIS. 



THIRD SERIES. 



No. XVI.— OCTOBER 1874. 



XXXIV. — A Visit to the principal Museums of the United 

 States, with Notes on some of the Birds contained therein. 

 By OsBERT Salvin, M.A., RR.S., &c. 



(Plates XI., XII.) 



In the early part of the present year I started from Guate- 

 mala with the intention of returning to England via Cali- 

 fornia and New York. My intention, so far as California was 

 concerned, was frustrated by the frequent and chronic changes 

 made in the times of calling of the steamers of the Pacific 

 Mail Company at the ports of Central America. I had there- 

 fore to go to Panama, and thence by steamer from Colon to 

 New York, and reached the latter city towards the end of 

 April. 



I spent less than five weeks visiting the chief towns in the 

 eastern States, a time much too short to do more than ex- 

 amine hurriedly the contents of the chief museums, both public 

 and private. Of coui'se the Museum of the Smithsonian 

 Institution in Washington occupied the largest share of my 

 attention, though I employed much time in examining Mr. 

 Lawrence's extensive and interesting collection. I also paid 



SER. III. — VOL. IV. z 



