560 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [1885. 



CATALOGUE OF A COLLECTION OF BIRDS MADE ON THE ISLAND 

 OF COZUMEL, YUCATAN, BY THE NATURALISTS OF THE U. S. 

 FISH COMMISSION STEAMER ALBATROSS, CAPT. Z. L. TANNER, 

 COMMANDER. 



Ry ROBERT RIDOWAV. 



In a pamjihlet* of four pages, entitled " Description of some Kew Spe- 

 cies of Birds from Cozumel Island, Yucatan," published at Washington, 

 February 2G, 1885, the writer gave brief diagnoses of thirteen new spe- 

 cies, and promised '' a full report upon the collection" to " be published 

 in the Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum." On account of 

 pressure of other duties, it has not been found practicable to make the 

 report as complete as might be desired, or to present it sooner ; but it'is 

 believed that on many accounts it will be better to publish it in its 

 present form, rather than secure greater elaboration at the expense of 

 additional delay. 



The collection upon which this paper is based comprises 232 skins 

 and 177 specimens in alcohol, the total number of specimens being 42f 

 and of species 57. It was made during the period dating from Jan- 

 uary 22-29, 1885, by Mr. J. E. Benedict, resident naturalist of the Al- 

 batross, assisted by Mr. Thomas Lee, Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, and Capt. 

 J. W. Collins. 



Before proceeding further with this paper I would refer to one by Mr. 

 Osbert Salvint in the Ibis, for Ai^ril, 1885 (pp. 185-195, pi. v), in which 

 is given a brief description of the island, and an annotated list of 27 



* This paper will also be found in Vol. Ill (1884-85) of the Proceedings of the Bio- 

 logical Society ofWashingtou. The original edition comprised 250 copies, many of 

 which were distributed on the date of printing, and others on March 2. The gratui- 

 tous distribution of this pamphlet by the author does not deprive it of its public 

 ■character, it having thus acquired a circulation far n)ore extensive than if offered 

 for sale; aud this is especially true since it was sent immediately or very soon after 

 printing to all who were supjiosed to be specially interested in the subject to whick 

 it pertained. Both the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington and 

 those of the U. S. National Museum are published under the immediate auspices of 

 the Smithsonian lustitution, and the edition of separately dated signatures or extra* 

 is specially designed to secure " immediate or extensive circulation," as recommended 

 by the committee of the British Association. The number of pages comprised in a 

 publication is a matter of even less importance, it seems to us, than the date of i^rint- 

 ing (in contradistinction to date of puhlicaHon) : and it will hardly be questioned 

 that if the paper under consideration had comprised a hundred or more pages it« 

 «laim to recognition would not have been challenged. In short, having all the re- 

 quirements of a separate publication, including an edition equal to that of many im- 

 portant ornithological works, aud having been promjitlyand extensively distributed, 

 there appears to be no reason why the paper whith has called forth these remaika 

 may not be legitimately recognized aud quoted. { Cf. The His, July, 1885, pp. i37-:238.) 



t On a Collection of Birds from the Island of Cozumel, by Osbert Salvin, M. A., 

 F. R. S., &c.>T/^e Ibis, ser. v, vol. Ill, April, 1885, pp. 185-195, pi. v. 



