12 



Vertebrate Zoology. 



The chief work of the year has been centred in this depart- 

 ment. The much needed provision of new cases for the 

 reptiles, snakes, amphibia and fishes, caused the transference 

 of the whole of the series to the Eastern annexe adjoining 

 the entrance to the Greville Smyth room. Here they have 

 been re-arranged and remounted. 



A few of the gaps amongst the amphibia have been filled 

 by a donation from the British Museum. The chief additions 

 to the fishes include a fine example of the Wolf-fish from 

 Messrs. Rowland Ward ; a large salmon caught in Avonmouth 

 Docks, from the Bristol Docks Committee ; and examples 

 of Muraena, Avocettina gilli, and Chauliodes sloanei, from 

 Messrs. Sellick, Morley and Price. 



The whole of the original bird cases were removed and 

 new ones built in their place during the early part of the 

 Museum year. On their completion, the re-arrangement of 

 the bird collection was taken in hand, and little more needs 

 to be done to complete the work. Many new birds and several 

 groups of nestlings and nests in natural surroundings have 

 been added, and the whole of the stands made uniform. 

 The muslin screens used as a middle partition in place of 

 solid panelling has proved a great improvement upon the 

 older method ; light passes through readily, whilst it never- 

 theless serves as a good background to the specimens. 



The cast of the leg bone of .Epyornis has been taken 

 apart and re-mounted in a more natural position. 



Mr. F. Capern presented twenty-one cases of British 

 birds in fine condition. Considerable use has been made of 

 these by Art students for sketching purposes. 



The mammalian collection has been increased by the 

 purchase of a Brown Hyaena, the gift of. a group of three 



