1S87.] Notes and News. 271 



species and including some 300 types. This collection is the gathering of 

 a lifetime by a veteran ornithologist, and consists largely of specimens 

 identified by the highest authorities, much of the material having passed 

 through the hands of specialists. The collection contains not only a 

 nearly full series of North American birds, including many specimens of 

 historic interest, but also about two-thirds of all the known species of Mex- 

 ico, the West Indies, Central America, and South America. It includes 

 the types of nearly all the many species described by Mr. Lawrence, and 

 as a reference collection will prove of the highest value. The Museum is es- 

 pecially to be congratulated on securing a collection of such rare scientific 

 importance. 



A further important addition consists of a collection of 4000 bird skins, 

 about 150 clutches of well-identified eggs (generally with the nests), and 

 several hundred bird sterna, from the Province of Matto Grosso, Brazil, 

 purchased of Mr. Herbert H. Smith (see Auk, IV, p. 84). This collection 

 numbers about 300 species, including many of special interest, and doubt- 

 less, when fully worked up, will yield some novelties. In many instances 

 the suites show the changes of plumage from the nestling bird to maturity. 



While these three collections add vastly to the scientific resources of the 

 ornithological department of the Museum, a very noteworthy addition 

 has been made to the exhibition series of birds, consisting of eighteen 

 very elaborate 'Group Pieces.' These are arranged in twelve cases placed 

 in the alcoves of the 'Bird Floor', and illustrate in a striking manner the 

 nesting habits of the species represented. Each group consists of a 

 pair of birds, with their nest and eggs, surrounded by their original 

 accessories, varying, according to the species, from a bit of salt marsh, 

 pasture, or a woodland bank, to a full-blown apple bough or cherry sapling. 

 In case of the bush- or tree-nesting species, the nest has been left in 

 situ, the foliage and the blossoms of the bush or branch being 

 reproduced in fac simile from nature; in the ground-nesting species the 

 nest has been taken, with a square yard of the sod on which it rested, to 

 the Museum, the grass and other plants growing thereon remaining in- 

 tact, and the perishable parts faithfully reproduced in detail exactly as in 

 life, thus giving results eminently realistic. The modelling of the plants 

 has been done by Mrs. E. S. Mogridge, aided by her brother Mr. Mintern, 

 both formerly of the South Kensington Museum of England, the celebrated 

 bird groups of that institution being also the work of their skilful hands. 

 The careful and laborious gathering of the material, the designing of 

 the groups as to special effect in each case, and the general ground-work, 

 is the work of Mr. Jenness Richardson, who has displayed excellent taste 

 and skill in his share of the details. 



To Morris K. Jesup, Esq., President of the American Museum, is due 

 the idea of reproducing here groups similar to those of the South Kensing- 

 ton Museum, while the Museum is indebted to the generosity of Mrs. 

 Robert E. Stuart for the means to carry it into effect. Through her lib- 

 erality the work will be continued, and some twenty or more groups added 

 the present year. The unrestricted means available for the work permits 

 the attainment of finer results than have ever before been attempted, and 



