American held over rare bird skins theft

POLICE have arrested a 22-year-old American over the theft of 299 rare bird skins from the Natural History Museum.

The museum in Tring, Hertfordshire, which belongs to the better-known London museum, was broken into last June.

It was subsequently discovered that 299 brightly coloured stuffed birds were missing, believed stolen, from a collections area.

Police said yesterday: "A man aged 22 from the US is currently in police custody. Police have recovered the majority of the bird skins."

Speaking at the time, Professor Richard Lane, director of science at the museum, said all the stolen skins were from tropical birds.

He said they were mostly male trogons and quetzals from Central and South America as well as birds of paradise from the island of New Guinea.

Prof Lane said: "The Natural History Museum collection of birds is one of the most important collections of birds in the world.