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trative of all or most of the great orders of birds, ist, the passeres, 
or passerine birds; 2d, the picarias, or picarian birds; 3d, the 
psittaci, or parrots; 4th, the raptores, or birds of prey; 5th, the 
columbae, or doves; 6th, the gallinae, or gallinaceous birds; 7th, 
the limicolaj, or shore birds; Sth, the alectorides, or cranes and 
rails; 9th, the lamellirostres, or anserine birds ; the steganopodes, 
or totipalniate birds; nth, the longipennes, or long-winged 
swimmers; 12th, the pvgopodes, or diving birds. I only ask for 
two species of each order; and I specify the orders to show that 
it is on scientific lines our collections should be formed so as to 
possess an educational value for reference. I recommend the 
attempt to be made with birds, first, because the avi-fauna of 
Newport is very extensive ; secondly, because there are several 
gentlemen in our Society who are much interested in ornithological 
pursuits, and thirdly, I admit, because ornithology has been to me, 
for many years, a fascinating study. From Rhode Island, speci¬ 
mens of all these orders can be had, except of the parrots. 
It is by such combined efforts that our museum can mould itself 
into shape. Every branch of natural history has, probably, its 
unknown votaries in Newport. What we aim at is to induce 
such ladies and gentlemen to work for the public good. To name 
but one other branch, that of botany ; the formation of a ‘‘hortus 
siccus,” or dried collection of native wild flowers and plants, is one 
that might well be undertaken by the lady members of our Society. 
At present, we have, apart from the small portion classified, a 
general collection of minerals, foreign shells and curiosities, many 
of them of interest but not all coming under the character defined 
by the sentence in article I, section V, of your by-laws, the words 
running thus: lt Only such objects shall be admitted to the mu¬ 
seum as have a scientific value.” 
As time goes on, the necessity for rigidly abiding by this wi*e 
rule will become more and more apparent. During the past year 
several donations of scientific value have been received and have 
been, from time to time, duly acknowledged in the public prints, 
with best thanks to the donors. 
I write this third report as your Curator, with more hope than 
ever before, that, in process of time, we shall have a Natural 
History Museum in Newport. Your most obedient servant, 
Newport, May 5th, 1SS7. A. O’D. Taylor, Curator, 
