REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS 

 IN THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1889, 



By Robekt RlDGWAY, Curator. 



The year's work lias not differed materially in its character or scope 

 from that of preceding years, except that the rearrangement, labeling, 

 ami general improvement of the exhibition collection was more actively 

 and continuously prosecuted. 



There has been an increase over the year 1887-'88 in the number of 

 specimens received and distributed, in correspondence, and in the num- 

 ber of specimens mounted. Owing to progress in the remodeling of 

 the cases, a far greater amount of work has been done in the way of 

 rearranging and labeling the exhibition collection. 



The number of entries made in the register of the bird department 

 during the year is 2,971, the principal accessions being as follows: 



Auckland Museum, New Zealand, through I. F. Cheeseman. — One Apteryx oweni, 

 one I'ii i)i tuts carneipes and apair of Hymenolaimus malacorhynchus, all from New Zea- 

 land, tlic, latter species new to the Museum collection. (Exchanged.) 



0. T. Baron, Elk, Mendocino County, California. — One Doublcday's bumming bird, 

 /«<•//<■ doubledayi, from Mexico. (Purchased.) 



A. Boucard, Paris.— 8 specimens, 7 species, from various parts of the world, mostly 

 new to tin- collection. (Purchased.) 



George K. Oniric, New York City. — 72 specimens, 29 species, from the neighborhood 

 of New Voik City. A very acceptable collection of good skins. (Gift.) 



H. //. Collins, Detroit, Michigan. — 38 specimens, 8 species of water birds in the 

 downy stage, from St. Clair Flats. Avery interesting accession, since this plumage 

 of several of these species lias hitherto been unrepresented in our collection, some of 

 them being in fact nndescribed. (Purchased.) 



C. B. Cory, Boston, Massachusetts.— 6 specimens, 4 species, from Grand Cayman, 

 and Cayman Brae, West Indies. (Exchanged.) 



Cosin Him National Museum, San ,los. . Co ta Rica, through Mr. Jose" C. Zeledon. — 

 A male, of Aeanthidops bairdi, from Costa Rica. This species was described by Mr. 



Ridgwaj only a few years ago from a Bingle female specimen, anil the male lias 



remained unknown until now. lint three specimens of this rare bird have been taken 



as yet. (Cil't . I 



Costa Mca National Museum, San Jos6, Costa Rica.— 50 specimens, 30 species, from 

 Costa Rica. A very valuable accession, including the types of two new species (one 

 a new genus and perhaps uew family), besides plumages new to the coUection. 

 (Gift.) 



Costa Rica National Museum, San Jose", Costa Rica.— 6 specimens, 6 species from 



357 



