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Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



Cincinnati Society of Natural History : 



Gentlemen — My Ornithological report as Curator is as follows : 



The collection of mounted birds has been enriched by the addition of 

 twenty-three specimens, among which are 



1 G-olden Eagle Aquila chrysaetus (L) Cuv. 



1 Muscovy Duck, Carina moschata, male. 



1 Shoveler (Broad Bill) Duck, Spatula clypeata (L) Boie. 



1 European (White) Swan, Cygnus oler, adult. 



1 European (White) Swan, Cygnus oler, being young in downy plumage. 



2 Black Swans. 



These birds are well mounted, and with the exception of one of the 

 swans, appear to be fine specimens. 



Also two cases of mounted birds were received so badly damaged as to be 

 worthless for our use. 



To the collection of bird skins there have been added three specimens. 

 The skins of the collection are well preserved and appear to be free from 

 destroying insects and vermin in general. 



The collection, is quite comprehensive as to our local fauna, but is lament- 

 ably lacking in specimens whose habitat is confined to regions other than 

 our own. The Society possesses only a few of the species peculiar to the 

 Western or Southern United States. 



When at Washington, D. C. , I ascertained that the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tute would exchange only for the particular specimens they desired. An 

 examination of the printed list of desiderata of that Institute disclosed the 

 fact that this Society had few or no specimens which the Smithsonian 

 Institute wanted, and which we could spare. 



Attention was then directed towards exchanges with Ornithological col- 

 lections in various parts of the country. 



After due consideration it was decided that the completeness of series of 

 specimens of bird skins owned by this Society would be interfered with if 

 exchanges were made from them. I would therefore recommend that addi- 

 tional specimens of our local fauna be obtained for the purpose of exchange 

 with Western and Southern Ornithologists. These local specimens may be 

 obtained by purchase, and also probably by donation. If all the collectors 

 of this Society would be at the trouble to get such local specimens as fall 

 within their reach, the Society would soon have on hand desirable speci- 

 mens for exchange. 



The receptacles for the bird skins are ample in point of mere size. There 

 is a need, however, of economizing the space these receptacles provide. 



The smaller birds greatly outnumber the larger ones, and are now crowd- 



