80 THE OSPREY. 



THE WORKS OF JOHN CASSIN. 



By Theodore Gill. 



In the March number of the Ospeey (p. 50-53) was published a "Biogra- 

 phical Notice of John Cassin" by the present writer. In a new ornithological 

 work (Cassinla), published a few days later, appeared another article on "John 

 Cassin" by Mr. Witmer Stone of Philadelphia. Thus, after the neglect of a 

 third of a century, Cassin has found two biographers within the limit of a 

 week's time. 



In the present article, it is only intended to notice the main features of 

 Cassin's activity. Curiously enough, the first article (a "verbal communica- 

 tion") contributed by this man who devoted his future almost exclusively to 

 ornithology, was of an entomological character, a notice of a supposed new 

 race of "seventeen year locust", published in 1843 in the Proceedings of the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (p. 279); this "locust" {Cicada) 

 was soon afterwards named Cicada cassini by Dr. Fisher. The next year (1844) 

 another "verbal communication" was made on the Snowy Owl [Nyctea). 



The first entitled article was published in 1845, and then succeeded a long 

 series continued nearly up to the time of his death. The articles appeared in 

 the Proceedings and Journal of the Academy as follows: 



Journal. 

 

 

 

 1 

 2 

 1 

 2 

 

 2 

 1 

 

 2 

 

 

 1 

 

 

 

 2 

 1 



1843 Proceedings. 







(1) 



1844 







(1) 



1845 







(0) 



1846 



1 



(0) 



1847 



4 



(0) 



1848 



5 



(1) 



1849 



4 



(1) 



1850 



4 



(0) 



1851 



7 



(0) 



1852 



2 



(2) 



1853 



2 



(1) 



1854 



1 



(1) 



1855 



3 



(2) 



1856 



4 



(4) 



1857 







(4) 



1858 



2 



(4) 



1859 



3 



(2) 



1860 



3 



(2) 



1861 







(1) 



1862 



1 



(2) 



1863 



3 



(0) 



