60 



The unfaltering liberality of Mrs. Robert L. Stuart, who has so 

 often befriended the Museum in its needs, fortunately rendered 

 such an undertaking feasible, she generously volunteering to de- 

 fray the costs of the groups now exhibited. 



The first series of groups, numbered on the labels i to i8, was 

 placed on exhibition May lo, 1887 ; they are arranged in the 

 alcoves, beginning with No. i, the Robin, at the north end of the 

 west side of the Hall, and ending with the Clapper Rail Group, in 

 the second alcove (from the south end) on the east side. The 

 second series of groups, numbered 19 to 37, was placed on exhibi- 

 tion May 8, 1888. A part are in the alcoves on the east side of the 

 Hall, and the remainder form a series down the middle of the Hall. 



The very full labels accompanying the groups render a detailed 

 account of each unnecessary in the present connection. Thirty- 

 seven species are represented, selected from among the more 

 common species found in the immediate vicinity of New York 

 City. They have been chosen with the view of illustrating the 

 nesting habits of species widely differing in respect to their styles 

 of architecture and general domestic arrangements. Thus far the 

 Song-birds greatly predominate over the Water Birds, the Grouse, 

 and Birds of Prey, but it is expected to add from time to time 

 further representatives of these latter groups. 



Of the species now represented four belong to the Thrush 

 family {Tiirdidce), two to the Wren family {Trog/odytidcc), nine to 

 the family of Warblers {Mniotiliida;), three are Vireos (family 

 Vireonidce), one is a Tanager (family Tanagridce), two are Swallows 

 {Ifirundinidce), nine are Finches and Sparrows (family FringiUidic\ 

 two are Orioles (family Icteridce\ two are Flycatchers (family 

 Tyrannidce)^ one is a Cuckoo (family Cuculidce), one an Owl (family 

 Sfn'gidcr), and one is a Rail (family Rallidce), as follows : 



LIST OF THE GROUPS. 

 Family Turdid^e. 

 Bluebird {Sialla sialis). — No. 19. 

 American Robin {^Menda migratoria). — No. i. 



large series of bird groups now shown in the South Kensington Museum. The American 

 Museum, when about to undertake similar work, fortunately found Mrs. Mogridge residing in 

 this city, and arranged with her to do the modelling for the groups now on exhibition here. 



