6 
in which, after stating that the entire collection amounted to nearly 
600 species, and upwards of 1800 specimens, with the full comple- 
ments of eggs of more than 300 species, I made the following offer : 
“ I believe that in some instances the Government has lent its aid and 
support to works of such magnitude as the Birds of Australia by taking 
a certain number of copies ; were this done in my own case and not 
less than 25 copies were taken, 1 should be most happy to present to 
the Museum both the Collections above mentioned ; but should such 
an arrangement be declined, then I beg to offer them to the Trustees 
for the sum of £1000.” To my own, as well as to the regret of nearly 
every scientific man in Europe, my offer was declined by the Trustees. 
Upon this circumstance becoming known to Edward Wilson, Esq., 
of Lydstip House, near Tenby in Pembrokeshire, that gentleman 
immediately purchased the entire collection for his brother, Dr. T. B. 
Wilson, of Philadelphia in North America, whither it will be shortly re- 
moved, and where it will be at all times available for the purposes of 
science, and form a portion of perhaps the most extensive ornitholo- 
gical collection in the world. 
In conclusion I would beg to say, that having brought the “ Birds of 
Australia ” to a close, after devoting nearly ten years to its produc- 
tion, I trust it will be admitted that it has been terminated in the same 
spirit with which it was commenced, and that any errors which may be 
found will be viewed with leniency, when the extent of the work, and 
the difficulty of procuring and arranging so large a mass of materials, is 
taken into consideration ; should my labours, such as they are, merit 
the approbation of those who have so liberally supported it, my own 
efforts will be amply repaid. Although the work comprises every 
species known to inhabit Australia up to the present time, it is not to 
be supposed that it contains the whole of the birds of that vast country, 
of which so large a portion is yet a terra incognita . Every new district 
towards the north-west that may be explored will doubtless afford addi- 
tional species, and which may hereafter form the materials for a supple- 
ment. 
I originally intended to include the Birds of New Zealand in the 
present work, but upon farther investigation of the subject I found that 
they belong to a distinct Fauna, which fact, coupled with the vast ac- 
cession of new species from the continent of Australia, induced me to 
omit all but those that had been published in the first instance, and 
one or two others remarkable for their great interest. 
Enjoying, by the blessing of Providence, constant good health, and 
energies as yet unimpaired, I propose still to devote my humble efforts 
to the advancement of Ornithology, that science which treats of one of 
the most pleasing portions of the Almighty’s many wonderful works; 
and with ample materials at my command for illustrating the Birds of 
another magnificent portion of the domains of the British Crown — 
India — my next work will probably be on “ the Birds of Asia,” which 
will, irrespective of all other considerations, be of no little interest as 
forming the connecting link between the Birds of Europe and Birds of 
Australia. 
JOHN GOULD. 
June 12, 1848. 
