268 DUTCHER, Rare Long Island Birds. [^ 



contains about one thousand specimens, representing one hundred 

 and fifty-three species. The larger part of the collection repre- 

 sents the avifauna of Long Island although a few extra-limital 

 species arc included. The great educational and historical value 

 of this well-housed collection shows very forcibly the good 

 results that can be obtained by the unselfish and determined 

 efforts of public-spirited citizens, who give not only of their time, 

 but of their means, to build an institution that adds largely to the 

 intellectual growth, the patriotism, and love of good citizenship 

 of the neighborhood. The greater the number of such institu- 

 tions that we have formed throughout our land the greater the 

 benefits that we of the present generation shall bestow on those 

 who may take up our unfinished work. 



All of the specimens in the bird collection were presented to 

 the Society by a few donors, the larger part coming from Col. 

 Nicolas Pike, long a resident of Kings County, and always an 

 ardent and successful sportsman, and withal an accurate and 

 scientific field naturalist. Early in the thirties he commenced to 

 make a collection of the birds of Long Island, which he con- 

 tinued for many years and finally presented to the Historical 

 Society. In the annotations of the species, which will follow, 

 many very interesting items of Long Island bird history will be 

 given from his note-books. 



Coincident with the early work of Col. Pike, Mr. John 

 Akhurst established himself as a taxidermist in Brooklyn where 

 he has followed his profession for over half a century. Nearly 

 all the specimens in this collection were mounted by Mr. 

 Akhurst, who beside his skill in taxidermy is also an excellent 

 field naturalist. During a recent visit to him, Mr. Akhurst, 

 while in a reminiscent mood, related to me many interesting inci- 

 dents relative to the early history of this collection. He said for 

 many years Col. Pike and himself collected birds and other 

 zoological specimens in Kings County which was then largely 

 wooded or occupied as farmland where now it is covered with 

 streets and blocks of dwellings. Fulton Market in New York 

 City was, as it is now, the depot for the sale of produce from 

 Long Island, and the dealers there received from the professional 

 gunners on Long Island a large number of game birds and many 

 rare birds. There was a great rivalry between Mr. Akhurst and 



