24 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Feb. 
been of great value. What should be particularly noted in 
reference to these additions, is the fact that detailed measure- 
ments of each specimen were carefully made before skinning, 
and the sex determined in all cases by actual dissection. Of a 
few species, above fifty specimens of each have been collected. 
Such series show the exceptionable character of many distinc- 
tions commonly considered to be trustworthy guides in deter- 
mining species, and not unfrequently present specimens differ- 
ing so widely from each other, that if they came from remote 
localities, few ornithologists would hesitate to consider them as 
representing distinct species. 
The work on the collections has been mainly confined to the 
skins. The cataloguing and arrangement of these have been 
continued, and a considerable number of duplicates set aside 
for exchanges, some of which have been packed, and are await- 
ing shipment. With the exception of very recent additions, all 
the American and European specimens are now catalogued, 
and the North American have been carefully identified. The 
arrangement of them into faunal and systematic series is also 
considerably advanced. In connection with the faunal arrange- 
ment of the collection, a special investigation of the Geographi- 
cal Distribution of the Birds of North America has been com- 
menced. To facilitate the collection of data concerning this 
subject, the subjoined circular has been issued, and extensively 
distributed among American ornithologists. Responses from a 
considerable number of observers have already been received, 
in which they have promised their co-operation. A few have 
also made valuable contributions of facts, among which we will 
here only mention a full list of the birds of the vicinity of 
Havana, Cuba, with annotations, from Dr. Gundlach. 
During the year, the whole collection of embryos, preserved 
in alcohol, numbering above thirteen hundred lots and three | 
thousand specimens, has been systematically arranged in the 
cellar, and the cataloguing of the same completed. More than 
two hundred mounted specimens of birds have been added to 
the collection on exhibition, while many more are stored in the 
bird-room for lack of space in the public rooms. 
In conclusion, we may add that, through the great number 
of specimens accumulated from one locality now possessed by 
the Museum, we are provided with an amount of material 
