I4 MUSEUMS. 
A. LORD DERBY MUSEUM. 
ZooLocicaL DEPARTMENT. 
(a) GENERAL. 
Several dredging excursions have been undertaken during the 
year to the estuary of the Mersey and the Ivish Sea, for the purpose 
of obtaining specimens for the Local Collection of Marie Fauna. 
Through the kindness of the Sanitary Sub-Committee, the City 
Engineer’s Department gave permission for the Director to 
occasionally place members of the staff on board the “ Beta,” 
when on its periodic visits to the “ Deposit Grounds,” near the 
North-West Lightship. This vessel has been utilised also for the 
purpose of bringing fresh seawater from beyond the North-West 
Lightship for supplying the Aquarium. The thanks of the Com- 
mittee are due to Captain Griffiths for his most willing help and 
courtesy during the trips on which the officers have accompanied 
him, and also for so frequently bringing in objects of interest to the 
Museum which have fallen in his way on other occasions. 
The Science Cabinets, containing properly identified and labelled 
specimens on selected subjects, have been distributed to the various 
Klementary Schools in the City as in former years; applications 
have also become more numerous for specimens for object lessons 
(mainly Natural History), and for the series of Technical Appliances 
on loan from the Museums. The increase in the applications for 
Museum specimens has necessitated considerable additions to the 
loan collections. This educational feature, which has for its 
purpose the promotion of scientific teaching throughout the City, is 
being more and more appreciated. Numerous applications, as has 
been stated in previous Reports, continue to be made to the 
Director by educational authorities, not only in England, but in 
America and Australia, for information as to the working of the 
svstem. 
In the Local Area Gallery continued progress has been made 
during the past year with its re-arrangement and in the mounting 
of specimens of the Local Fauna. The following bird-groups have 
been prepared and added to the exhibited series during the year :— 
