>>>For all its merit
though, I still wonder about it.  Certainly it is buyer beware! and a
certain amount of risk must be accepted.  And surely there are ethical
considerations.  In an online auction it is often difficult if not
impossible to determine where something originates from, if it is stolen
property, part of a pot hunters trove, or what. Does the seller really
have the right to transfer title to the museum?<<<

Forgive the ignorance from a natural history museum (eBay is definitely
*not* a source of bird specimens), but how is this different from any other
source?  Don't these same questions arise whenever you consider buying
something?  You surely can't guarantee provenance every time you find
something for sale, can you?  In what way are the online auctions any
riskier?

just curious,
Robin

Robin K Panza                         [log in to unmask]
Collection Manager, Section of Birds          ph:  412-622-3255
Carnegie Museum of Natural History       fax: 412-622-8837
4400 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh  PA  15213-4008  USA

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