This collection contains manuscript notes, lists, and catalogs concerning bird specimens. The catalogs are the primary documentation for many of the specimens of the Division of Birds. Although they vary in content, as a general rule they contain specimen-related data including catalogs of specimens collected, dates, localities, tag numbers, measurements, and remarks on the specimens. Less frequently, they contain journal entries of the collector describing field activities, affairs of the day, anthropological observations, personal financial accounts, and other personal matters. Also included is an edited manuscript on Arctic birds, apparently compiled from the notes of Bernard Rogan Ross, Roderick Ross MacFarlane, Robert Kennicott, and others.
Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu.
