10 



the classification of Audubon. To make the collection as 

 perfect as possible, we have endeavored to procure specimens of 

 birds in the different stages of plumage, as well as of their 

 different ages and sexes, especially those illustrating the Orni- 

 thology of Essex County ; and to make our collection still 

 more perfect and desirable for study, we would recommend that 

 alcoholic specimens be added to it. To the Foreign Birds very 

 little has been done, from the want of proper books for necessary 

 references, — our library being very deficient in this department. 

 The collections of Nests and Eggs have increased very much 

 during the last year, and have also been catalogued. For so 

 recent collections they are exceedingly rich in rare specimens. 

 We would avail ourselves of this opportunity to call upon 

 members and others to assist us in obtaining specimens. 



The following enumeration shows the present condition of 

 these departments, viz : 



209 mounted specimens of North American birds containing 

 148 species ; 137 specimens of foreign birds ; 12 specimens of 

 foreign birds nests ; 74 specimens of foreign birds eggs, con- 

 taining 41 species, determined; also 23 species contained in 72 

 specimens, not determined ; 58 specimens, containing 32 spe- 

 cies of American birds' nests ; 200 specimens of American 

 birds' eggs, containing 81 species, not including about 27 

 species contained in 50 specimens of undetermined ones. 



In addition to the enumerated nests and egors, we have a 

 large number of duplicates for exchanges. The donations and 

 additions during the past year, are as follows — (those to which 

 no localities are assigned are from Essex County, with the 

 exception of a few which are marked with a query, which are 

 not known — viz : 



From W. S. Messervy, Turdus mustelinus ; J. F. 

 Webb, jr., Muscicapa tyrannus^ Trichas marilandica 

 (male) ; Dr. B. Cox, six skins of birds from Para ; F. W. 

 Putnam, Tringa arenaria (female, summer plumage) ; 

 B. B. Neal, Thalassidroma Wilsonii (female, sum. plum.) ; 

 J. A. Goldthwaite, live specimen of Pvffinus c'mereus (aut. 

 plum.), caught in his garden near the common; J. J. Rider, 

 "whidahbird" (male), Africa; H.P.Ives, Fako columbarins 



