THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



able breeding-places for birds on our Southern coast ; but when 

 a demand first arose for Terns, 'Sea-Swallows,' or 'Summer 

 Gulls,' for millinery purposes, ,so many were killed on Cobb's 

 Island that several species were practically exterminated there. 

 In one day 1400 Least Tems were shot; and in three days three 

 baymen shot 2800 Tems of various species. The State of Vir- 

 ginia subsequently passed a law protecting these birds, and the 

 American Ornithologists' Union now provides a warden to en- 

 force it during the nesting season. As a result the birds are in- 

 creasing in numbers, and it is hoped that thej'^ may become as 

 abundant as they were formerly. 



The group was prepared under the direction of Frank M. 

 Chapman, from studies and photographs made by him on Cobb's 

 Island, in July, 1902. The background was painted by W. B. 

 Cox. The birds were mounted and arranged by H. C. Denslow, 

 of the Museum's Department of Preparation. 



Sixty-three individuals of the following six species are shown : 

 Least Teni, Gull-billed Tern, Common Teni, Skimmer, Wilson's 

 Plover, and Oyster Catcher. In most instances the eggs and 

 young at various stages are represented. 



THE NEW INSECT HALL, 



The new hall of the Department of Entomology, in the 

 gallery floor of the east wing of the Museum, is now open to the 

 public. In this hall there is now on exhibition, for the first 

 time, the entire magnificent collection of butterflies of America, 

 north of Mexico, and from other parts of the world, which was 

 generously donated to the Museum by the late Very Rev. E. A. 

 Hoft'man. It contains about 2000 species, represented by over 

 5000 specimens, and is arranged in fourteen large double cases, 

 containing specimens from Mexico, Central and South America, 

 India, Malay Islands, Australia, Japan, Africa and Europe. 

 The North American butterflies are installed separately in four 

 cases, nearly all the species found in this country being repre- 

 sented. 



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