VoI i*8ot VI ] Stoxe > Some Philadelphia Collections and Collectors. I 67 



The Philadelphia Academy was not founded until the year 

 before Wilson's death in 1813, so that he had no association 

 with it as he undoubtedly would have had had he lived longer. 



The only museum in Philadelphia during his time was the 

 famous Peak's Museum. Of this he makes frequent mention 

 in his writings, and here he deposited many of the specimens 

 which served as the types of the new species described and fig. 

 ured in the 'American Ornithology.' 



The birds secured by Thomas Say on Major Long's expedition 

 to the Rocky Mountains in 1819-20 seem to have likewise been 

 deposited in Peale's Museum, as Bonaparte in his continuation 

 of Wilson's work figured several of Say's birds and refers by 

 numbers to specimens in the museum. The single fact that 

 Wilson's and Say's types were included in the Peale collection 

 makes its history of much importance to us to-day, but the 

 many other historical associations connected with the museum 

 greatly increase its interest. 



Peale's Museum was originally opened in 1784, then consisting 

 mainly of the paintings of the proprietor and artist, Charles 

 Wilson Peale ; later from time to time various natural curiosities 

 were added, and the museum was moved several times as more 

 commodious quarters were required. In 182 1 its name was 

 changed to the Philadelphia Museum, and it was under the man- 

 agement of a company composed mainly of Peale's sons, includ- 

 ing Titian Peale, the ornithologist of the U. S. Exploring Expe- 

 dition. 



In the early days of the museum Peale attempted to open it on 

 Sundays, which naturally brought forth heavy criticism from the 

 public press, to counteract which he had a sign prepared for dis- 

 play on the Sabbath, bearing the legend : " Here the wonderful 

 works of the Divinity may be contemplated with pleasure and 

 advantage. Let no one enter .to-day with any other view." 



In 1794 we learn that a small zoological garden was started in 

 connection with the museum proper, the chief attraction being a 

 Bald Eagle, with a sign " Feed me well and I '11 live 100 years." 

 from which we infer that the animals were largely dependent for 

 subsistence upon the liberality of the visitors. 



One of the original catalogues published in April, 1805, and 



