ORNITHOLOGY OF SECTION D, 1850. 
we had an example of skins prepared in a manner remarkable for 
its success, and illustrated by notes on their habits, of great value. 
These were by the son of a gentleman, Professor M‘Gillivray of 
Aberdeen, who will well remember Wilson’s rooms in the Old 
College. ' 
Now, the stuffing department goes on in secret. The dealers in 
Edinburgh teach if required, but there is no temptation to learn. 
Fenton and Carfrae, both capital preservers, and most repectable 
persons, haye no collections. There is not sufficient demand to keep 
many specimens for sale; and their work is almost confined to set- 
ting up what is sent in by sportsmen, some favourite dog, parrot, 
or canary, or furnishing up some case of foreign skins, sent from 
friends or relatives abroad ; and even these departments, they tell 
us, are becoming less frequently called for. The Ornithological col- 
lection in the Museum of the University is not arranged so that 
it can be studied, and the new acquisitions, or private donations, are 
not accessible. There is a want of some proper and well informed 
officer as curator, who could superintend, work out, and catalogue 
the general Zoological collection. There are no rooms or accoll- 
modation where specimens can be examined, and drawings or de- 
scriptions made by any one working at or interested in any particular 
group. ‘The really fine collection is therefore almost useless, 
cept as a holiday show; and the Government funds which até 
expended, are in a manner thrown away, from their inadequacy to 
furnish the convenience and facilities for study. These are some 
of the causes which retard the higher branches of Zoology, antl 
make it desirable that a proper representation of the wants of the 
Museum should be made to Her Majesty's Government, 
The Twentieth Meeting of the British Association for the At 
vancement of Science assembled in the usual manner on the evening 
of the 30th July, under the presidency of Sir David Brewster, 00° 
of its original founders and earliest supporters. It was numerously 
attended, but the scientific men from abroad did not number those 
of some former years, and we had no foreign Ornithologist presets 
Professor Van der Hoeven of Leyden being the only gentleman 
who represented Zoology from the continent. The British Orti- 
thologists present were, Mr. Selby, who was obliged to leave during 
the carly part of the meeting, Mr. Hugh E. Strickland, and Mr. 
ae who both read papers, and Mr, Ryton. Mr. D. W. Mitchell 
