INTRODUCTION. XI 



Seebohm's Collection was composed almost entirely of the eggs 

 of Palaearctic species of birds. Not only was he a most energetic 

 traveller and successful collector himself in many countries of 

 Europe and in Siberia, but he was in constant communication with 

 many well-known naturalists on the Continent. He also acquired 

 some reliable collections, the most noticeable of which was the 

 excellent collection of British birds' eggs got together by that 

 sterling naturalist, the late Edward Hargitt, R.I. 



In 1894, the Museum received a small collection made by 

 Mr. 0. V. Aplin in Uruguay, and another, presented by Mr. S. 

 Butcher, of specimens taken on the Arabian Coast. 



In 1895, Colonel J. W. Yerbury presented some birds' eggs 

 obtained by him near Aden, and Mr. Alexander Fry a series from 

 Rio de Janeiro. 



The accessions in 1896 and 1897 consisted of a few eggs taken by 

 Mr. A. W. Anthony on the Revillagegido islands and the islands of 

 the Gulf of California, and presented by him. With the purchase 

 of the Steere collection of Philippine birds, the Trustees also acquired 

 an interesting series of eggs. 



No less than five collections were received in 1898. First -in 

 importance was the fine series of eggs of Chilian birds bequeathed 

 to the Trustees by Mr. H. Berkeley James. Almost equally 

 important was the one formed by Mr. A. H. Holland in the 

 Argentine Republic, and purchased by the Museum. The other 

 collections, though small, were of great interest. Sir John Murray 

 presented the eggs taken by Dr. C. W. Andrews on Christmas 

 Island, in the Indian Ocean ; from Mr. John Whitehead were pur- 

 chased the specimens obtained by him in the Philippine Islands ; 

 and Captain G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton presented the birds' eggs 

 collected by him in the islands of Bering's Straits, in the Northern 

 Pacific. 



In 1399 the acquisitions were small but of great interest. A set 

 of eggs collected by the Webster-Harris Expedition to the Galapagos 

 Islands was added to the Collection, as well as a small number of 

 authenticated specimens from Costa Rica, collected by Mr. C. F. 

 Underwood, while Dr. Cuthbert Christy presented some interesting 

 eggs collected by him on the Niger. 



In 1900 a large contribution of the eggs of North- American 

 birds, collected by Mr. W. E. D. Scott, was received in exchange 

 from the Princeton University, New Jersey ; a small collection 

 of Australian eggs was presented by Mr. Donald Mackintosh ; 



