IReport of tbe Curator of the IRatural 

 Ibiston? flDuseum* 



REVIEW OF THE YEAR. 



The past year has been marked by steady progress 

 in all departments, and by a general improvement in the 

 collections. The event of chief importance has been the 

 creation of a new section, that of Economic Biology, 

 by Resolution of the Committee on April 17th. In the 

 establishment of this new section the Museum is working 

 in conjunction with University College, and whilst the 

 new Department will be a necessary corollary to the 

 work of the Department of Economic Biology established 

 at the College, it is also a natural development of an 

 important part of museum work of former years, viz., 

 that of dealing with enquiries upon insect, and other 

 pests. Previously, the name and character of a pest was 

 indicated, and reference given to examples preserved in 

 the collections. The new section, however, goes much 

 further. A collection, which is growing rapidly, is being 

 made of all plant and insect pests of the Western Counties 

 of England, together with examples of material showing 

 their destructive effects, and these are now in course of 

 arrangement, in what was formerly the inner room of 

 the old library. Enquiries upon economic questions 

 come from an ever widening area, and there can be no 

 doubt that the creation of this new section will be of 

 general benefit to the agricultural and fruit-growing 

 districts, and materially increase the usefulness of the 

 museum. 



The Leipner collection, presented by Miss Poole 

 King, was unpacked in January, and was found to con- 



