Important specimens of bird species are properly housed in institutional museums. For example, I have spent many hours looking for Ohio specimens of whooping cranes--once common as migrants in Ohio--that eventually produced proof of their presence in the state. I have also heard about unexamined collections of birds accumulated over a hundred years ago that may contain very interesting specimens. A surprising number of these may have important data, or even be unique Ohio specimens. Many years ago, bird fanciers accumulated numbers of prepared specimens of various species. Most were eventually discarded by their owners. Most were also of negligible interest, but some might have had great interest for ornithologists. Unusual species were always of interest, but analysis of common species from years gone by can be of considerable interest. The Ohio list is missing a couple of species whose specimens are missing. Anyway, if you know of any old bird specimens, consider donating them to an established museum! Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]