1912.] 
NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 
565 
conform in appearance with the skins, which rentiers them more 
available for study and more easily cared for. 
Mr. Charles J. Pennock, who was appointed November 5, 1912, 
as a voluntary special curator of the Oological collections, has 
already begun the rearrangement of the material and has outlined 
plans for its expansion. After the removal of the Entomological 
Department from the bird floor of the Museum, where it had occu¬ 
pied temporary quarters during the alterations, the exhibition cases 
were carefully examined and much mounted material which had been 
labelled and arranged for exhibit was systematically placed. Al¬ 
though only one or two specimens of most species are now exhibited 
and all types and most of the unique specimens have been withdrawn, 
it will be necessary still further to reduce the exhibit, as it is much 
overcrowded 
The local co lection, established and increased from year to year 
by the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, has been entirely re¬ 
arranged, two large cases having been provided for the water birds 
and birds of prey. Many specimens which it has been impossible 
to exhibit previously have been mounted in groups with natural 
accessories, while the series of birds presented by the late Francis W. 
Rawle and others have been mounted with their respective nests, 
thus completing many of the older groups. The appearance and 
educational value of this collection has been thus greatly enhanced. 
In the time not occupied by his duties as Curator, in general 
Museum work and in the arrangement of the bird collection, the 
Conservator has identified the entire collection of 1,548 birds 
obtained by Mr. S. N. Rhoads in Ecuador during 1911. which was 
acquired by the Academy early in the year. He has also identified 
the Venezuelan collection obtained by the Francis E. Bond expedition, 
and prepared reports on both for publication. 
A careful study of the types of Gould’s Australian birds has also 
been made in connection with the problems encountered by Mr. 
Gregory M. Mathews in the publication of his Birds of Australia . The 
results of this work are likewise prepared for publication, as well as 
the report on the Raptores of the Princeton Patagonian Expedition. 
During the year, in addition to the Ecuador collection above 
referred to, the Academy has received an important gift of birds 
of West Africa from Mr. G. L. Bates, of Cameroons, the first acces¬ 
sion from this region since the famous Du Chaillu collections; 
also numerous specimens for the local collection from the Delaware 
Valley Ornithological Club. 
