7 



At the beginning of the past year, it was found that 

 the parapet on the front of the bnilding was in an insecure 

 condition, and the Committee took steps under the advice 

 ot the City Engineer to ensure its safety. 



In view of carrying out the general scheme for re- 

 mounting and rearranging the Zoological specimens on the 

 ground floor, it was found absolutely necessary to provide 

 some accommodation for such work being carried out 

 efficiently. The Committee therefore removed two dila- 

 pidated and dangerous sheds in the yard, and on the site 

 erected and fitted up two suitable workrooms which have 

 proved to be of the greatest service in connection with the 

 practical work of the Museum. 



The work of preparing for the rearrangement of the 

 specimens in natural groups, as well as in such modern 

 cases as are now seen in every good Museum, required the 



overhauhngofthewholeofthespecimensin the department, 

 and the temporary arrangement of the best of them in the 

 smaller of the old cases. The larger of the old cases were 

 removed to the top floor, where they have afforded con- 

 venient storage for the many other displaced specimens 

 that now await the provision of new cases. Two new cases 



iZ Q h h e Z C °T leted ' and m ° re P r °S ress would have been 

 made but for the circumstances already referred to. 



effJVf ° US ^^ de P artments improvements have been 

 effected during the past two years. 



The extensive collection of British Lepidoptera (Butter- 

 flies and Moths), contained in a special Cabinet, has been 

 entirely rearranged, and the specimens relabelled. In 

 this work the late Curator received the most valuable 

 assis ance from Mr. G. C. Griffiths, F.S.S., who not only 

 devoted an immense amount of time and patience to it 

 but who also contributed from his own collections upwards 

 of a thousand specimens, in order to make the contents 

 of the Cabinet more thoroughly representative 



