55 



breeding season, and was in consequence deported. Wlien diggin, 



him out it was of interest to find Ms eartli carpeted with masses o. 



blue-hell leaves and flowers, and also to discover the skeletal 



remains of some of our birds. Rats have also caused some serious 

 losses. 



Among iutfciresting birds added to the Kew collection by pre- 

 sentation of exchange during the past year, may be mentioned a 



H 



from Mr. W. H. St. Q 



also been 



a pair of Hinged Teal. A pair of Crowned Cranes has 



added and a pair of pale-grey Guinea-fowl presented by Mrs. Orde, 

 of Nunnykirk, Morpeth. 



I 



Official Visits. — During tlie past year tlie vote for travelling 

 ex])eiises lias been utilised as follows : 



The Director. — Being' tloputed Lj tlie Board of Agriculture and 

 Fislieries to attend tlie International Phytopatliological Congress 

 wliich was held at Eome. 



The Curator.— In visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edin- 

 burgh, and horticultural establishments in Scotland. 



The Assistant Curator. — In visits to gardens in Cornwall, 



Mr. Sprague, Assistant in the Herbarium. — For the purpose of 

 examining types of African plants in the Berlin Herbarium. 



The Keeper of the Museums. — In a visit to Liverpool for the 

 examination of imported tropical products, etc. 



Mr. W: Dallimore, Assistant in the Museums, —In a visit to 

 Swansea in connection with forestry exhibits at the Bath and 

 West and Southern Counties Show. 



Other visits which had been planned had to be postponed owing 

 to the outbreak of hostilities. 



1 



Museums* — A considerable number of interesting products 

 ]iave been added to the collections during the past year, and these 

 have been recorded from time to time in the Bulletin. Special 

 mention must be made of the large amount of material consisting 

 of specimens of rubber and miscellaneous tropical products 

 obtained from tbe various sections of the International Eubber 

 Exhibition held in London during the summer. These products 

 have been dealt with and incorporated in the permanent collec- 

 tions. 



Duplicate products have been distributed to various institutions^ 

 including the Eoyal College of Science, Dublin ; the London 

 County Council, for the Geffrye Museum; Art Gallery and 

 Museum, Eochdale; Public Library and Museum, Colne,' Lan- 

 cashire, etc. 



Many products have been received for determination and for 

 general information as to the properties and uses and for 

 references to tbe literature beariug upon the same. This is a 

 most important work of the department, and tlie large number of 

 enquiries received are evidence that the Museuni.«t have of recent 

 yens become of increasing importance to the commercial com- 

 munity. 



