246 Zoology. 



and Arthur Taylor, 8hue Lane, who in 1818 printed the " Synopsis 

 of the Contents of the British Museum " (antea, p. 155). A reprint 

 of Leach's " Systematic Catalogue" was published in 1882 by the 

 Willughby Society, and was edited Ijy the late Osbert Salvin. The 

 editor points out that, as the catalogue was printed on one side of 

 the paper only, it was probably intended as a label-catalogue for 

 the specimens, and of this, I think, there can be no doubt. It is 

 very useful as a catalogue of the Montagu collection of birds, 

 which was obtained from " G. Montagu, Esq., Jun."' The " Solitary 

 Stare," represented by a specimen from Yorkshire given by the 

 Rev. James Dalton, was found to be merely the young of the 

 Common Stare. {C/. Leach, i.e., Errata.) Of Leach's " Catalogue," 

 Mr. Salvin says : — " It is also a question if it was ever actually 

 published in the ordinary sense, for though the printer's name is 

 given at the foot of the title page, no publisher is mentioned. 

 (The same may be said of the Guide-book to the Museum, printed 

 by Messrs. R. and A. Taylor, who were then evidently employed 

 by the Trustees, whose name did not appear.) It is impossible 

 to overlook Leach's Catalogue, as his names have been constantly 

 referred to by subsequent authors, and, for good or bad, must 

 take their place in nomenclature." 



Sir E. Maunde Thompson has very kindly supplied me with 

 the following memoranda from the archives of the British 

 Museum. On the 14th June, 1816, Leach recommended the 

 purchase of the Montagu collection for £1,200. The purchase 

 was approved by the Trustees, Sir Joseph Banks recommending 

 it, and on the 1st of October, 1816, Leach reported tlie safe 

 arrival of the collection. 



1837. 



This was the first year in which a serious attempt was 

 made to keep an official register of the acquisitions. 668 specimens 

 presented; 591 purchased. Total, 1259. 



John Gould presented 172 specimens of birds to the Museum, 

 and 111 more were purchased from him. They were from various 

 localities, but included a few Australian species, showing that, 

 even at this early date, he was receiving specimens from someone 

 in that continent. 



310 birds were purchased in Paris from the collection of the 

 late Baron Laugier de Chartrouse, who had collaborated with 

 Temminck in the production of the " Planches Coloriees." 



187 birds pre.sented by Sir W. Burnett and Captain Fitzroy. 



It- 



