Letters, Extracts, and Notes. 157 



The preparation of the fifth vohime of the '^ Catalogue o£ 

 the Colleotion of Birds' Eggs/' by Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, 

 has been completed, and ^vill be issued shortly. 



Lists of birds believed to require protection in certain 

 British Colonies and Protectorates have been prepared for 

 the information of the Colonial Office. 



The collection of skins in cabinets has been carefully 

 exarainedj, drawer by drawer^ or box by box^ to ascertain if 

 there is any trace of moth or beetle among them. About 

 half the cabinets have been inspected in this way, and 

 camphor has been placed in each drawer. 



Great assistance has been received from jNIr. David A. 

 Bannerman, who has been engaged in working out various 

 collections, in labelling a number of old collections, and in 

 preparing them for incorporation. 



The Committee appointed by the Secretary of State for 

 the Colonies to inquire into the question of the destruction 

 of plumage birds — including Mr. C. E. Fagan, Dr. Harmer, 

 and Mr. W. H. Ogilvie-Grant, to represent the INIuseum — 

 have completed their investigations, but have not yet issued 

 tiieir report. 



Amongst the publications of the INIuseum relating to birds 

 was the General Index to the late Dr. Sharpe's ' Handlist 

 of the Genera and Species of Birds,' which will be of very 

 great use to working naturalists. The first volume of this 

 work was published in 1899, and the fifth in 1909. The 

 General Index, containing 199 pages, was issued in 1912, 

 and completed the work. Mr. Ogilvie-Grant (the Editor) 

 tells us in his preface that his chief attendant, ]\lr. Thomas 

 AVells, was of great assistance to him in this laborious task. 



Among the more important collections presented to the 

 Natural History Museum in 1911 were: — (1) The speci- 

 mens obtained by the British Ornithologists' Union's 

 Expedition to New Guinea. The large series of birdskins is 

 of great zoological importance, and form a gift, the value of 

 Avhich can scarcely be over estimated. (2) The magnificent 

 collection of African Birds formed by the late Mr. Boyd 

 Mexander, during his various expeditions, and given in 



