MAMMALS AND BIRDS 
Maximilian 
Collection, 
$7,500. 
Elliot 
Collection 
of Birds, 
$7,351.62 
Verreaux 
Collection, 
$16,000. 
Vedray 
Collection, 
$1,000. 
North 
Atlantic 
Right Whale. 
SHORTLY after the Museum's Charter was granted, in 1869, 
the Trustees began the purchasing of collections, and by 1870 
had secured the Elliot, the Maximilian, the Vedray, and 
Verreaux collections. 
The most important was that of Prince Alexander Philipp Maxi- 
milian of Wied, which was purchased for £1,500 sterling. It con- 
sisted of 4,000 mounted birds, 600 mounted mammals, and about 
2,000 fishes mounted and in alcohol. Prince Maximilian visited 
Brazil in 1815, 1816, and 1817, exploring it through ten degrees of lati- 
tude, and gathering specimens for his collection. He came to the 
United States in 1832, when little was known of the Far West, and as 
an experienced naturalist visited the region between the Rocky Moun- 
tains and the Mississippi. His collection, containing many types, was 
regarded as the most important in Europe. 
The ElUot Collection of Birds consisted chiefly of North American 
species and comprised over 2,500 specimens, and was purchased from 
Dr. Daniel Giraud Elliot for $7,351.62. 
The Verreaux Collection, placed on the market because of the 
death of its owner, Edward Verreaux, of Paris, at that time the largest 
dealer in specimens in the world, was purchased for $16,000. It 
comprised 220 mounted mammals, 2,800 mounted birds, and 400 
skeletons of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fishes. 
Two hundred and fifty specimens of mounted mammals and Siberian 
birds were purchased from M. Vedray, also of Paris, for $1,000. 
The skeleton of the North Atlantic right whale was one of the 
first gifts of importance received by the Trustees for the new Museum. 
This whale came ashore off Long Island, and the bones were purchased 
by the Honorable Peter Cooper for use in Cooper Union. They proved 
too cumbersome, however, and were stored in the basement until, 
[66] 
