18 
REPORT OE NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
NEW SPECIMENS. 
Among the most valuable specimens we have purchased are the 
following: 
A pair of otters, bought of Mr. L. A. VanNest, a trapper. They 
were caught in the stream that runs into Carnegie lake, at Princeton, 
1ST. J., and are as nice a pair as can be found. This animal is very 
rare in New Jersey now, and no doubt will soon be extinct in the 
State. The pair have been well mounted. 
We have procured several nice specimens of turtles, one map turtle 
which was taken in the Delaware near the State House, also a fine 
pine snake. We have several other specimens of reptiles at this time 
being mounted. 
Our collection of mammals and birds of New Jersey is very near 
complete. We have been able to procure a pair of heath hens, a species 
that is extinct in the United States, except a few in captivity at 
Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. We also have a pair of wild or passenger 
pigeons. This bird is extinct. Not one is known to be living in the 
world. The last in captivity died in 1914. This is the pigeon that 
used to be so plentiful in the United States that they were caught by 
the thousands and sent to market. In their flight they would shade 
the sun like a cloud. When a boy, in Maine, I used to bait them and 
catch them in a net and sell them alive for 50 cents a dozen. Now 
you could get $2,000 for a live pair. We also have a group of Hunga¬ 
rian partridge—eleven. The Fish and Game Commission has put out 
hundreds of these birds in different parts of the State to try and see 
if they would be a success as a game bird. Mr. Napier, President of 
the Commission, informs me that it has not been a success. 
Through the kindness of the Fish and Game Commission we have 
procured two fine specimens of rainbow trout, which were raised in 
the New Jersey Fish Hatchery at Hackettstown. They are being 
mounted for the Museum. We did not have any of this species in our 
collection. This Commission has always been a great help to the 
Museum. 
DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM. 
Woods .—One of the first donations to the Museum was a large col¬ 
lection of woods made under the supervision of Mr. Benj. Heritage, 
of Mickleton, Gloucester county, N. J., assisted by his friends and 
neighbors. 
Continental Money .—One of the most valuable gifts is a collection 
of Continental money, complete, with the exception of one note, which 
