29-i OFFICIAL REPORT ON THE BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT 



radius is taken for investigation. Of Mosses, 173 species and 

 varieties are enumerated. Dr. Braithwaite's assistance in naming 

 critical species is acknowledged. 



We may, therefore, confidently wish success to the Birmingham 

 naturalists and their work. We are glad that they have determined 

 to issue their ' Proceedings ' to the public, and that those who, are 

 interested can, without difficulty, obtain copies. In this respect one or 

 two older Clubs would do well to follow their example. The present 

 Honorary Secretary of the Society is Mr. Edward Simpson, 17, Noel 

 Koad, Binuino-ham. 



OFFICIAL REPORT FOR 1869 OF THE BOTANICAL 

 DEPARTMENT OF THE BRITISH :MUSEUM. 



By John J. Bennett, F.R.S. 



The principal business done in the Department during the year 

 1869 has consisted, — 



lu the rearrangement of a portion of the presses of the general 

 herbarium, with a view to their extension, and to rendering them more 

 accessible, subsequent to the painting and cleaning of the herbarium 

 rooms and, studies, which was carried out during the summer. 



In the rearrangement of the families of GramineaR, Oyperacece, 

 JuncecB, Restiacece, Urtocaulonea, Asphodelece, JmarylUdea, Hemero- 

 calUdea, Smilacece, and other smaller Monocotyledonous Orders, as 

 also of the TJrlkece and Piperacece, and of the Lichens, both British 

 and foreign, with numerous additions to each. 



In the selection of a very large number of specimens from the her- 

 barium of the late N. B. Ward, Esq., and from the collection of 

 Abyssinian plants sent by Dr. Schimper through the Foreign Office. 



In the naming, arranging, and laying into the general herbarium of 

 Berlandier's Mexican collection ; of Linden's collection, from New 

 Granada ; Tate's, from Nicaragua ; Coulter's, ft-om California ; Sart- 

 well's Carices of North America ; Wight's collections, from the Nil- 

 gberry Hills and from India generally ; Jameson's, from the Andes of 

 Quito ; Orclddece, from different countries ; Ferns, from the islands of 

 the South Pacific ; and of a large number of miscellaneous specimens 

 of various amilics and from different countries. 



