4 
But the most important change which has been made in 
this department, is the separation of the British from the 
Exotic species. In nearly all the extensive Natural 
History Museums in Europe the native species are now 
fostered as a distinct collection. Such has lately been 
the case in our National Museum, and whereas the 
observer had before this change to seek laboriously through 
thousands of birds, from every clime, for the isolated 
specimens which had formed the collection of some 
celebrated Naturalist,—as for instance that of Colonel 
Montague,—he may now see them all placed side by side 
in the gallery devoted to British Zoology. And with them 
he may also see ranged the gems from the collection of the 
late Mr. Yarrell. The advantage of such an arrangement 
is obvious. 
When the Archeological Institute held its meeting at 
Warwick, the Bishop of Oxford, a good Ornithologist, and 
the possessor of a collection of the birds of the eastern 
Counties of England, paid a visit to our museum, and 
was much pleased to see the British Birds placed by 
themselves. He observed, with great truth, ‘‘ you cannot 
vie with the larger Museums in a general collection, but 
you may excel them if you confine yourselves to a purely 
local collection.” Fully agreeing with this opinion, the 
Hon. Curators, while enlarging the collection of British 
Birds, propose to do so, as much as possible, by means of 
specimens obtained in Warwickshire, or the contiguous 
Counties. They offer these remarks in the hope that the 
friends of the Institution, will assist them in carrying out 
their views, by the donation of some of the species forming 
the following list of desiderata :— 
