32 Royal Coloriial Institute. 



Paterson, Barrow, Lichtenstein, Le Vaillant, Latrobe, Burchell, and many others. A 

 splendid edition of Daniell's " African Scenery and Animals," and other rare 

 illustrated works add distinction to this section of the library. The Indian section 

 also contains many of the more important works relating to India, and a special section 

 is devoted to Egypt and the Sudan. Nor are the smaller dependencies neglected. 

 There is quite a collection of literature relating to the Falkland Islands, and even 

 such small islands as the Cocos-Keeling group and Fanning Island have their section 

 in the catalogue as well as on the shelves. Of general works of travel attention 

 may be directed to those known as Hakluyt (1598-1600) ; Purchas (1625-6) ; 

 ChurchiU (1732); Harleian (1745); Harris (1705); Callander (1788); Burney 

 (1803-17) ; Pinkerton (1808) ; Astley (1745-7) ; Kerr (lSll-24) ; Ramusio 

 (1554-83), and Prevost (1746-70), and the publications of the Hakluyt, Navy 

 Records, Linschoten, and similar societies. Among special sections may be 

 mentioned one containing the prose and poetic writings of Colonial litterateurs. 

 The importance of the growing national literatures of Canada, Australia, and 

 even South Africa is attested by the si/e of the special sections. There is also a 

 botanical section in which the chief works on the floras of the Colonies are kept, 

 and a language section containing publications on and in native languages is being 

 formed. A journey round the bookshelves reveals the greatness of the British 

 Empire, and brings home in a better way than can perhaps be done elsewhere the 

 vast amount of literature that has been written about the British possessions. The 

 library is becoming more and more known to literary workers, and many well-known 

 works on subjects of colonial and imperial interest have been written within its 

 walls. 



X.— THE NEWSPAPER-ROOM. 



Seven hundred and twenty-five newspapers, journals, and magazines are received and 

 filed at the Institute. Most of the monthly and quarterly magazines are kept in the 

 library or on tables in the law-room, but the newspapers and weekly journals are 

 displayed on stands in the newspaper-room. They include periodical publications from 

 every portion of the British Empire, which are arranged in different sections, and can 

 be easily and quickly found. It may be stated that almost every newspaper of any 

 importance is received, many of them being presented by their publishers. Fellows 

 from overseas and Resident Fellows who have returned to the Mother Country, find 

 the newspaper-room one of the most useful features of the Institute, for by means of the 

 files of current papers they are enabled to keep in close touch with events in the 

 portion of the Empire with which they are connected. No other institution has so good 

 a display of Colonial periodical publications. It would be invidious to point out any 

 special paper or journal, but attention may be directed to the various classes of 

 papers that are filed in this room. First are the daily newspapers published in 

 the capitals and chief cities of the Empire, and reflecting the political and social 

 life of their respective spheres. The majority of these are, after the expiration of 

 one year, handed over to the British Museum for permanent storage, and Fellows 

 of the Institute may always consult back files on presentation of their card to the 

 Museum officials. Then there are the official gazettes from every State in the Empire, 



