Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 95. (Budapest 2003)

Gál, E.: Catalogue of the recent bird bone collection in the Hungarian Natural History Museum. Part 1: Sphenisciformes through Phoenicopteriformes

stroyed by fire in 1956 (BÖKÖNYI & JÁNOSSY 1965). He contacted many professional and amateur natural scientists (palaeontologists, biologists, ornithologists and hunters) in Hungary and abroad to contribute extra skeletons or exchange specimens. Therefore, the collection contains specimens from beyond the borders of Hungary: from Poland, Romania, Kazakhstan, and Denmark and even from the USA and Argentina. Conversely, some of these collections (e.g. the Zoological Museum of University of Copenhagen) also contain skeletons sent by Dr. JÁNOSSY. Beside the survey of the Hungarian collection, the aim of this catalogue is to make data available for all those who are interested in the osteology and geographical occurrence of birds. MATERIAL AND METHODS According to the old and unpublished species list, and a preliminary survey of the collection, there are approximately 1000 complete or incomplete skeletons representing at least 250 species. The collection is housed in the Department of Palaeontology and Geology of the Hungarian Natural History Museum in Budapest, 14 Múzeum krt. The curator responsible for maintenance is Mr. MIHÁLY GASPARIK. The systematic order used in the catalogue is modelled after that on the CD-ROM entitled "Complete Birds of the Western Palearctic" (CRAMP 1998) and "Handbook of the birds of the World" (CABOT et al. 1992), and within these the existing taxa in the collection. Six orders of penguins (Sphenisciformes) through flamingos (Phoenicopteriformes) have been entered into the database so far. The second part of the catalogue is planned for a few months from now and it will include the two next orders: Anseriformes and Falconiformes. Every record contains information concerning the registration number, completeness of the skeleton, sex, date and place of origin of the specimen, and notes. In the case of incomplete skeletons the distal bones of the wing and leg are usually absent because they are left in the mounted bird. The notes generally include observations regarding the age of birds and osteopathology, if typical. RESULTS Order: Sphenisciformes Family: Spheniscidae Eudyptes chrysocome (FORSTER, 1781) No. Inventory no. Skeleton Sex Date Origin Note 1 2003.1.28 complete ? 1978.02.21. zoological gardens