Collection consists of 57 illustrations of birds, eggs, snakes, and plants by James Forbes chiefly to illustrate his work "Oriental Memoirs," published in four volumes between 1813 and 1815. The majority of the illustrations are either engraved or hand-drawn and then coloured, and have been cut out and mounted on paper. In many cases, a background has been drawn in and coloured or partially coloured. Approximately thirty of the images depict tropical birds, many from the Indian subcontinent, as well as some from Brazil and Australia. A number of these drawings also feature insects, particularly butterflies, and trees and flowers. Fifteen drawings depict bird eggs, including many of forest birds. The images generally contain captions by Forbes or a contemporary, identifying the subject of the drawing. Some birds are unidentified. Numerous drawings also contain species identifications or annotations in pencil by Henry Mousely, librarian of the Blacker Wood Library at McGill University during the 1920s and 1930s. These drawings are tentatively dated to approximately 1811. A note on one drawing indicates that it was originally based on drawings created during Forbes's voyages during the 1780s, then recopied in 1811. Items 44 through 57 depict snakes and reptiles and are tentatively dated to between approximately 1811 and 1818, based on a small number of drawings which are signed and dated. Many of these drawings of snakes and reptiles feature as plates in Patrick Russell's "A Continuation of an Account of Indian Serpents: Containing Descriptions and Figures, from Specimens and Drawings" (1801).

This series consists of 14 scrapbook volumes and files of material collected by Wood that were of interest to him either professionally or personally, dated between 1887-1955, but predominately 1926-1941. The scrapbooks and files contain newspaper and periodical clippings, correspondence, printed ephemera, photographs, postcards, palm leaf manuscripts, prints, paintings and other artwork, manuscripts, bookplates, place cards, and textile badges. There are also a few items within the volumes relating to Wood’s research trips and minor writings.
Overall topics within the series include ornithology, Wood’s parrot John III, zoology, naturalists, current events (1927-1941), poems, politics and war, British culture and people, health, obituaries, education, tourism, science and medical research, McGill Library and other institution collections, bird sanctuaries, and bird, ancient, and medieval artwork.
Printed ephemera from Wood’s travels include invitations, programs, brochures, tickets, visitation membership cards, business cards, etc.. There are two volumes (1925-1932) with Saturday Evening Post articles written by Hal G. Evarts, Stewart E. White, David Newell, Bozeman Bulger, Lord William Percy, Donald R. Dickey, and others.
There are 63 incoming and outgoing correspondence, including letters, notes, cards and telegrams. Individuals addressed include Dr. Axel Munthe, Irving Thalberg, Major Allan Brooks, Edith Swan, William Beebe, Chester W. Davis, F. L. Struthers, Elizabeth E. Abbott, W. H. Poole, Thos. Cook and Son Ltd., Margaret E. Hibbard, National Audubon Society, Senator William E. Borah, Stuart Baker, T. S. Palmer, Samuel Casey Wood III, Alan Wood, E. E. Chambers, McGill University, C. F. Martin, George Perley, Emma Shearer Wood, and Wheldon and Wesley. Some topics discussed within correspondence include bird protection, ornithology, travel, holidays, politics, and a speaking event during World War One.
Other individuals represented in this series include Archibald Thorburn, Robert Ridgway, Joseph Addison, M. K. Wisehart, Charles D. Stewart, Dr. George Harlet, Charles Livingston Bull, Dr. Harding, W. J. Belcher, Doris Rosenthal, Marquess of Tavistock, Francis Moore, Karel Fabritius, John Burroughs, T. C. Harrison, R. L. Gallienne, W. H. Bartlett, Harvey Cushing, John H. Sage, Alexander Wetmore, Dr. Andreas Nell, and John G. Howard.
Some locations either visited by Wood or represented in the series include England, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, India, Sri Lanka, Italy, British Guiana, British Museum of Natural History, Notre Dame Cathedral, Victoria Albert Museum, and Bodleian Library.