Collections of the University of Cambridge. 49 



put beyond its reach. Many Cambridge men, and others 

 too, have presented their spoils to the Museum, with the 

 result that there is now a fairly good ornithological collection. 

 Of course, it does not rank with any of the large collections 

 of the world, but it makes up for small numbers by the fact 

 that it has been formed with a purpose, for the general, not 

 only for the systematic study of Ornithology. 



The following is a short statement of its contents : — 



A. — Skins, including about 1200 stuffed specimens, nearly 

 1000 of which are British-killed specimens. 



1. The Strickland Collection, originally 6006 specimens, of 3125 species, 



now W'ith additions from the Jardine Collection. 



2. The General Collection, about 16,700 specimens. 



This makes a grand total of about 23,000 specimens, representing 

 some 5700 species, assuming the number of recent species known 

 to be somewhere near 12,000. 



The skins are arranged and catalogued according to Gray's 

 Hand-list, chiefly on account of the convenience of the specific 

 numbers in that work. 



The following details shew how the General Collection has 

 gradually grown. This is, however, not the place to give a list 

 of all the kind donors, nor to mention any lots which were 

 purchased. The various collections enumerated below have been 

 incorporated in the General Collection, with some notable 

 exceptions. 



(1) The Hepburn Collection, mostly Calif ornian. 



(2) The Selby Collection. 



(3) The Sivainson Collection. This was purchased from Dr. Swain- 



son, mainly on account of his many reputed type-specimens ; 

 but unfortunately a mystery is attached to them, since the 

 number of specimens actually to hand falls far short of the 

 official list. 



(4) The Madagascar Collection, with 826 specimens of 238 species, 



made by the late Sir Edward Newton. 



(5) The Jamaica Collection, with 563 specimens of 101 species, made 



by the late Sir E. Newton. These two collections are kept as 

 separate units. 



(6) The Jardine Collection, with 2063 specimens of 900 species, 



bought at the Jardine sale in 1886 by Mrs. Strickland and 

 Professor Newton. 



(7) The Farr Collection, originally of about 1300 skins, collected 



by the late W. B. Farr in India and presented by his widow. 



SER. IX. VOL. IV. E 



