h 
: 
a 
1876.] Progress of Ornithology in the United States. 547 
tions of birds made at Lake Titicaca, and at Santarem, on the 
River Amazons. Prof. James Orton has also published on the 
birds of Ecuador, and the Rev. J. H. Bruce on those of India. 
Among the many aidsto a better knowledge of American 
birds should be mentioned the explorations of Kennicott, Dall, 
H. W. Elliott, Bannister, and Bischoff, in British North Amer- 
ica and Alaska, conducted under the auspices of the Smithsonian 
Institution, several of whom have forwarded to Washington im- 
mense collections of the birds of the Northwest. The surveys of 
our western Territories made under the direction of the War 
Department should be especially mentioned as among the aux- 
iliaries of ornithological science in this country, the various gov- 
ernment expeditions having been usually accompanied by compe- 
tent naturalists. The recent surveys (still fortunately in prog- 
ress) under the Department of the Interior have likewise been 
productive of important results. The numerous correspondents 
of the Smithsonian Institution, both in the boreal and in the 
tropical portions of the continent, though not always citizens of 
the United States, have added greatly to our store of ornitholog- 
ical material and knowledge. The several naval exploring expe- 
ditions have also contributed, from distant foreign shores, rich 
stores of Specimens and facts. Among more private enterprises 
should not be forgotten the Thayer and Hassler expeditions from 
the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy to South America, both of 
Which returned with rich ornithological collections, numbering 
m the aggregate thousands of specimens. ‘The expeditions of 
Professor Orton, .Mr. Alexander Agassiz, and Mr. Linden have 
: also been fruitful in ornithological results. Of the explorations 
Dr Bryant in the West Indies, and of numerous other orni- 
rial explorers elsewhere, the want of space forbids a further 
Otice, 
SUMMARY OF PROGRESS. 
When Alexander Wilson, the “ Father of American Ornithol- 
: ey,” began his great work, less than three fourths of a century 
a Probably not a dozen species of American birds had been 
. ‘entifically described by American writers, and almost nothing 
i eg been published relating to their distribution or habits. On 
40, °Mpletion of Bonaparte’s continuation of Wilson’s work in 
T  » Sbout four hundred species had been described by these 
| ri authors, of which colored figures had also been published, 
-i a more or less full account of the habits and range of each 
'Pecies, Tn 1833, Bonaparte (in his Geographical and Compar- 
