Birds. 301 



3 specimens from Europe Purchased. [46. 5. 29, 1-3.] 



8 „ „ Australia „ [46. 6. 5, 1-8.] 



20 „ „ Mexico „ [47. 2. 26, 1-20.] 



14 „ „ Mexico „ [47. 3. 10, 1-14.] 



22 „ „ India „ [48. 3. 3, 1-22.] 



24 „ „ N. W. America „ [45. 6. 3, 1-24.] 



24 „ „ India „ [49. 1. 15, 1-24.] 



53 „ „ West Africa „ [50. 11. 18, 1-53.] 



11 „ „ Trinidad „ [52. 2. 3, 1-11.] 

 The type of Globicera rubricera (Gray). [52. 5. 14, 1.] 

 14 specimens from South America „ [52. 11. 27, 1-14.] 



12 „ „ South America „ [54. 2. 2, 1-12.] 

 57 „ „ Bogota „ [54. 4. 6, 1-57.] 



504 



Most of these sjjecimens, from the vagueness of their locahty, have 

 been passed into tlie duplicates and given away to other museums, only 

 those of historical interest being retained. 



Argent was a dealer in natural history objects, but was unknown to 

 me personally. His place of business was in Bishopsgate Street, so Mr. 

 Gerrard, sen., tells me, and he was a great collector of tortoises and 

 reptiles, many of which were bought by Dr. J. E. Gray. 



The registers enumerate 500 specimens of birds as purchased from 

 Argent, but the localities were not very precise, though they were con- 

 sidered good enough for the days in which he flourished. Thus we read 

 of " North America " in the first purchase made in July 1843, and he 

 continued to supply specimens until April 1854, when the registers know 

 his name for the last time. In 1845 the first examples (15) from Bogota 

 are recorded, and in 1854 the Museum bought 57 specimens from the 

 same place. These were the commencement of that endless stream of 

 Bogota birds, now to be reckoned by millions, which have steadily come to 

 Europe as articles of trade down to the present day. These skins are 

 prepared by Indians in a somewhat rough manner, and are easily recog- 

 nised by their "make." The locality is worthless, as the hunters in the 

 present day have to go some considerable distance into the different 

 valleys to obtain a supply of skins for millinery purposes, so that Bogota 

 is synonymous for a very large area. 



The first paper on the birds of Bogota was published by Dr. Sclaterlin 

 the " Proceedings" of the Zoological Society for 1855, and the collections 

 in the Museum formed the foundation of the paper which he wrote at 

 this time (p. 132). 



Argyll {E.G. the late Duhe of), E.G. 



7 specimens from Sicily. Presented. [97. 10. 30, 1-7.] 

 This is apparently the only donation which the late Duke of Argyll 

 made to the collection of Birds ; but he was an accomplished ornithologist,, 

 and, like the present Duke, an occasional visitor to the Bird room. 



Argyll {H.G. the DuJce of), K.T. 



3 Gannets from Argyllshire. [98. 4. 12, 1-3.] 



Armitage (Miss). 



24 birds from British Guiana. Presented. [1904. 9. 9, 1-24.] 



Arnot {Cajpt. G. H.). 



28 specimens from Demerara. Presented. [1900. 8. 31, 1-28.] 



