162 Zoology. 



learn also from the same guide-book or " Synopsis " that the 

 ornithological series, consisting chiefly of the Sloanean specimens, 

 was "insensibly becoming retrograde in its comparative value ; 

 in order to supply the former of these deficiencies, the Trustees 

 being, in the year 1769, informed that a large collection of stuffed 

 Birds, in uncommon preservation, had been brought over from 

 Holland by a person of the name of Greenwood, who, having for 

 a time exhibited them to the public, became desirous to dispose 

 of them at a reasonable price, they readily availed themselves of 

 the opportunity and purchased the whole for the sum of £460. 

 Many additions were afterwards made by purchases and donations ; 

 and the aggregate soon formed, not indeed a complete, but an exten- 

 sive and curious a collection as any perhaps at that time extant." 



It will be noted by the ornithologist who knows anything of 

 the commencement of the Bird-collection in the British Museum, 

 that no particular mention is made in the foregoing account 

 of any specimens obtained by Captain Cook and Sir Joseph 

 Banks during their voyages round the world ; and yet it seems 

 likely that some specimens had been given by Sir Joseph Banks, 

 who is included in the list of those Trustees who were often 

 Donors ; but ornithological specimens were apparently not among 

 his gifts at that time. 



The account of this great naturalist is as follows : — " To the 

 list [of Trustees who were donors] must be added the name of 

 the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., K.B., who, after his 

 return from his circumnavigation, deposited at different times in 

 the Museum numerous collections of natural and artificial curiosi- 

 ties from the newly discovered islands in the South Seas, which, 

 Avith considerable additions since made by the Admiralty, 

 Captain Cook, and other officers who had performed similar 

 distant and perilous voyages, form now a very conspicuous part 

 of the Museum. Among the many donations of various kinds 

 which Sir Joseph Banks has since bestowed, and still con- 

 tinues to confer upon the establishment, we must not omit to 

 mention a large set of Icelandic books, both printed and manu- 

 script, which he collected in a voyage he made in the year 

 1772 to that island. Nor can the public be uninformed of the 

 indefatigable zeal he has ever displayed in his endeavours, as 

 a Trustee, to advance the honour and advantages of this Institu- 

 tion, which, together with his many other exertions for the 

 benefit of science, must ever rank him among her best friends 

 and strenuous promoters." 



