256 Mr. H. T. Mennell's report xipon the 



Various Organisms. 



Diatom ? or more probably a 



wheel-shaped spicule. 

 Entomostraca, 3 spp. 

 Polycystina. 



Sponge spicules. 



,, gemmules? 

 Coccospheres, abundant. 

 Coccoliths, very abundant. 



82. — Ekpokt upon the Stafford Collection of British Birds 

 recently sold at godalming. 



By Henry T. Mennell, F.L.S. 



(Read May 14th, 1890.) 



Towards the end of last February there appeared in the 

 'Pall Mall Gazette,' and other London papers, paragraphs 

 describing a collection of birds to be shortly disposed of by 

 auction at Godalming. These notices excited the interest and 

 curiosity of many of us. The collection was stated to be the 

 work of a lifetime, and to contain a vast number of rarities. 

 From the catalogues which appeared shortly afterwards, it was 

 seen that the collection was that of Mr. William Stafford, of 

 Godalming, deceased. The sale took place on March 5th, 1890. 

 The first lot in this catalogue was thus described : — 



"Lot 1. — The beautiful collection of birds, the greater part 

 of which are British species, as made and set up by the late Mr. 

 W. Stafford, the well-known naturalist of Godalming. This 

 museum has been formed after sixty-five years' personal interest 

 and perseverance. Most of the birds have been obtained in the 

 neighbourhood of Godalming and Guildford, and many have a 

 history attached to them, which increases the interest and value 

 of this fine and nearly complete local collection. The scenery at 

 the back of each case, painted by Mrs. Stafford, is in keeping 

 with the nature and habit of each example, and the setting up of 

 the collection is altogether artistic." 



It consisted of 332 cases of birds, and the catalogue was much 

 more elaborate, careful and correct than is usual for country 

 auction sales. It was afterwards ascertained that it had been 

 copied from a catalogue prepared by Colonel Godwin Austen when 

 the collection was exhibited at Guildford in a Loan Art Col- 

 lection some years ago, and no doubt pains were then taken to 

 verify the details given, the name of the author being a guarantee 

 that this would be done. The localities were given for the rarer 

 species, as well as some interesting particulars of their capture. 

 Mr. J. B. Crosfield and I spent a day in carefully going over 

 the collection, and, as far as possible, verifying the species. We 



