272 



Notes and News. tJ"'y 



which, so far as this country is concerned, are unique. To the general 

 public these 'Bird Groups' are eminently attractive and instructive. 



The efficiency of the Department of Ornithology has recently been fur- 

 ther greatly enhanced hy the purchase of Mr. D. G. Elliot's ornithological 

 library, consisting of about 1000 volumes, selected with great care as to 

 their utility, and embracing many of exceptional rarity. Its purchase goes 

 far toward placing the library of the American Museum in the front rank 

 of American libraries as regards works relating to ornithology. The 

 Elliot library is a gift to the Museum from two of its trustees, Mr. Corne- 

 lius Vanderbilt and Mr. Percy R. Pyne. 



In the April number of 'The Auk,' it was stated that the unrivalled collec- 

 tion of Ohio birds formed by the late Dr. J. M. Wheaton, had been placed 

 in the State University. We have since been authoritatively informed 

 that this statement is incorrect. Our informant writes : "The Doc- 

 tor's collection of bird skins is not now and never has been at 

 the Ohio State University, but is, as it always has been, in the Doctor's 

 house. It was his intention to place them in trust in one of the City 

 Parks — the 'Franklin' — on condition that a suitable place be constructed 

 to display them and take proper care of them. With the usual short- 

 sightedness, the great probability is that no provision will be made 

 for this trust, and that this invaluable collection will be allowed to 

 go from Columbus. There are about a thousand specimens, representing 

 all of the Ohio fauna, together with many foreign species. As everj 

 ornithologist knows, this collection can never be duplicated." 



The 'Transactions' of the Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club arc now 

 issued monthly under the title 'The Ottawa Naturalist.' the first number of 

 which bears date April, 1SS7. Besides the usual papers, reports, and 

 record of proceedings, it will contain ''an account of each general meet- 

 ing, soiree, class, excursion, sub-excursion, or other undertaking of the 

 Club." 



It is announced that 'The Ornithologist and Oologist,' beginning with 

 the July issue, "will pass into the possession of the Bristol Ornithological 

 Club," of which it will be "the official publication." Mr. Frank B. Web- 

 ster, 409 Washington St., Boston, will remain its publisher. 



From a private letter of an ornithologist, recently in Florida, we select 

 the following suggestive reference to the destruction of Herons in Florida : 

 "Plume hunters have destroyed about all the Florida 'Rookeries.' I saw 

 one whole wagon load of the scapular plumes of Ardea wardi, at one 

 point. It is a burning shame, and it woidd make your heart ache to hear 

 the wails of the starving young birds whose parents have been killed. 

 Two years more of the present work and Ardca zVardi, as well as the 

 large and small Egrets, will be as scarce as A. wuerdemanni is now. 

 Cannot something be done to stop such wicked slaughter?" 



