124 Notes cind A^etVS. [January 



of Dr. George Bird Grinnell, Chairman, and Messrs. William Dutcher 

 and George B. Sennett. Committees in further aid of the work have been 

 appointed bj the Linnsean Society of New York, the Torrey Botanical 

 Club of New York, and the Staten Island Natural History Association. 

 Circulars soliciting subscriptions have already been issued by several of 

 these Committees, a joint meeting of which will soon be held in New 

 York, on a call for this purpose from the Committee of the New York 

 Academy, to perfect plans for carrying on the work. 



It is estimated that from $6,000 to $10,000 will be required in order to 

 erect a monument worthy of the naturalist whose memory it is intended 

 to commemorate. It is hoped that at least the larger of these amounts 

 may be raised. The character of the monument will of course depend 

 upon the amount of money secured. It is not desired that any individual 

 subscriptions of large amount be sent, it being preferable to have the 

 testimonial rest on contributions from as many as possible of the great 

 naturalists' admirers, representing all sections of our country. Gifts from 

 abroad will be welcomed, but the work is obviously and primarily for 

 Audubon's countrymen. It is hoped that each of the three hundred and 

 odd members of the A. O. U. will feel it a privilege to contribute, with as 

 little delay as possible, to the fund. Contributions sent to the Treasurer, 

 Mr. William Dutcher, 51 Liberty Street, New York City, will be duly 

 acknowledged, and permanently recorded. 



On the completion of the monument it is intended to make the unveiling 

 a public ceremonial befitting the occasion, thus further appropriately 

 recognizing the great services of Audubon as a pioneer in American 

 ornithology. A list of the contributors to the monument fund might 

 very fittingly be included in the permanent history of the undertaking, 

 showing how widely and heartily his memory is still revered among not 

 only ornithologists, but the public at large, and especially among natura- 

 lists who are not distinctively bird men. 



Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, in 'The English Illustrated Magazine' for 

 December, 1SS7, in an article entitled 'Ornithology at South Kensington,' 

 gives some account of the ornithological collection in the British Museum, 

 detailing with evident pride its rapid increase and generally satisfactory 

 progress during the last fifteen years, and contrasting very favorably its 

 present condition with its status in the old galleries of the British Museum 

 at Bloomsbury, before the removal to the new quaiters at South Kensing- 

 ton. The article is full of important suggestions bearing upon the cai-e 

 and general management of such collections, well worthy of consideration 

 by those having them in charge. Unfortunately we have space to notice 

 only a few of the many statements of interest. He wisely advocates the 

 exhibition of birds in natural groups, mounted in characteristic attitudes, 

 and with accessories giving some idea of the habits and manner of life of 

 the species, the public, he believes, "infinitely preferring a few artistic 

 and naturally mounted birds to whole rows of specimens on stands, with- 

 out any explanatory labels to relieve the tedium of the conventional 



