CASSIN, John, ornithologist, born near Chester, Pennsylvania, 6 September, 1813; died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 10 January, 1869. He became a resident of Philadelphia in 1834, and, after several years spent in mercantile pursuits and in official duties, devoted the remainder of his life to the study of ornithology. He contributed descriptions of new species of birds, and synoptical reviews of various families, to the Philadelphia academy of sciences. He is the author of the article on "Birds" in "Outlines 554 CASTILLA in General Zoiilogy" (New York, 1851), and " Descriptions of all North American Birds not given by Former American Authorities" (Philadelphia, 1858), containing descriptions of fifty species not given by Audubon. Much of his work is contained in the United States government reports, and in that connection he wrote "Ornithology of the United States Exploring Expedition" (Washington, 1845); "Ornithology of Gillies's Astronomical Expedition to Chili" (1855); "Ornithology of the Japan Expedition" (1856)" and the chapters on rapacious and wading birds in the "Explorations and Survey for a Railroad Route from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean" (1858). His works are valuable for the description and classification of many birds not given in the previous works of Audubon and Wilson.