MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 5 



" Sorrel Horse Inn." These drawings vary as to completeness; 

 some are but rough outlines, while others are finished in all details 

 and are superior both in perspective and in delicacy to the en- 

 graved plates by Alexander Lawson in the "American Orni- 

 thology." There are sixteen autograph letters of Wilson ranging 

 in date from 1803 to 1810, two autograph poems, and his book of 

 receipts for the engraving and coloring of the plates of his 

 "American Ornithology." 



The Auduboniana included in Mr. Thayer's gift consists of five 

 original drawings by John J. Audubon and seventy-three of his 

 autograph letters written chiefly to Dr. John Bachman. There 

 are a few letters of Mrs. Audubon, one letter of her son John W. 

 Audubon, and sixtv letters of another son Victor G. Audubon. 



Letters of John Bachman, J. G. Bell, T. M. Brewer, Richard 

 Harlan, Edward Harris, Robert Jameson, George Ord, J. K. 

 Townsend and many others are included in Mr. Thayer's gift. 



Some of these letters together with extracts from the ledgers 

 and day books kept by John J. Audubon and his sons during the 

 publication of their works on the birds and mammals of North 

 America will be published at some future date. 



The Museum is also the fortunate possessor through the kind- 

 ness of Mrs. Anna Davis Hallowell, of an Alexander Wilson 

 memento of very great interest. This is a vertical sun-dial made 

 by Wilson himself during the closing years of the 18th century. 

 The dial is a simple slab of fine white marble about thirteen 

 inches square, with 



1800 

 Alex Wilfon 



cut in; the gnomom is of iron. Mrs. Hallowell writes me that 

 this sun-dial was given to her by her "father, Edward H. Davis of 

 Philadelphia some time about 1870. He bought it from an old 

 woman who had a garden on the Old York Road, near Milestown 

 Pa., who had inherited it from her parents, and knowing my 

 father's knowledge of birds and gardening, offered it to him. In 

 like manner he gave it to me, and as our old house at South 

 Yarmouth had the same date, (1800) I have kept it in our garden, 

 until my brother, Prof. Wm. M. Davis, suggested that it would be 

 safer with you. I therefore desire to present the dial to the 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology." 



From Dr. John C. Phillips the Museum has received large and 

 valuable series of birds and mammals; among the latter especial 





