268 Notes and Nexvs. I Julv 



knowledge of birds derived from his field experiences in various parts of 

 the United States and Mexico. His valuable collection of exceptionally 

 well-prepared bird skins and eggs has been presented to the American 

 Museum of Natural History. 



Through the enterprise of Mr. Charles B. Cory, Palm Beach, Florida, 

 has a museum of Natural History, devoted especially to the fauna of 

 Florida. At the suggestion of Mr. II. M. Flagler, the erection of a 

 building for this purpose was begun some two years ago, and was soon 

 ready for occupation, the building being a wooden structure, 40 by 100 

 feet, and two stories in beight. It already contains all of the Florida 

 mammals but two, and a nearly complete collection of the birds of 

 Florida, mounted after approved modern methods. It includes ten large 

 groups, devoted to the Panther, Alligators and Crocodiles, a Heron 

 rookerv, and various other characteristic Florida birds. While the 

 Museum is devoted primarily to the Vertebrate Zoology of Florida it 

 will also include the insects and shells, the intention being to bring 

 together a complete representation of the animal life of Florida. A 

 prominent feature is a collection of the implements and costumes of the 

 present Seminole Indians. It is proposed to add later an Aquarium, 

 devoted mainly to the fresh-water fishes of the State. At present the 

 Museum is open free to the public during certain hours each day, but 

 when completed will be tree only on certain days, a small admittance 

 fee being charged on other days. 



We have received the prospectus of a new monthly illustrated ornitho. 

 logical journal, 'The Osprey', published by the Osprey Company, Gales- 

 burg, 111., under the editorship of Walter A. Johnson, Dr. A. C. Murchison 

 and Chester Barlow. 



' The Niihologist' has again changed its place of publication, having 

 returned to its former home, Alameda, California, after a short but suc- 

 cessful career in New York City. We trust the change will not detract 

 from its future usefulness, or diminish the interest of its pages. 



By a recent Act of Congress the name of the Division of Ornithology 

 and Mammalogy of the United States Department of Agriculture, under 

 the direction of Dr. C. Dart Merriam, as Chief of the Division, has been 

 changed to the much more descriptive and appropriate title of ' Biological 

 Survey,' the change of name to go into effect July 1, 1896. It is gratify- 

 ing to have the character of the important work Dr. Merriam has for 

 some years been conducting so successfully recognized officially by the 

 Congress. 



Respecting Mr. D. G. Elliot's expedition to Africa, mentioned in a 

 former number of ' The Auk ' (XIII, p. 196) we quote the following from 

 the June issue of 'The National Geographic Magazine' (VII, p. 219); 



