MUSEUMS. 



33 



The series of photographic enlargements illustrating the various races 

 of mankind— the Caucasian, the Mongolian and the Melanesian— have 

 been further extended. Anthropologists, who have seen them, have 

 expressed their high appreciation of their value, and requests have been 

 received from several Museums for copies. A series is at present being 

 prepared for the British Museum, and over fifty enlargements have been 

 already sent to that Institution per Mr. Richard Lydekker, F.R.S. 



(b) Arrangement. 

 The same general arrangements of the collections have been maintained 

 throughout the year, and in view of the Extension, when such changes 

 and re-arrangements will be involved, little can be done, beyond keeping 

 the collections, as at present exhibited, in proper order. 



(c) Conservation. 



All the collections on exhibition have been periodically examined, 

 dusted and kept free from moth or other pest. The store cabinets and 

 tanks, containing specimens preserved in fluid, have also been systemati- 

 callv gone over for the purpose of renewing the spirit or other 

 preservative. The store cabinets of dried specimens also require 

 constant attention, insects especially being liable to deterioration. 



The work of reducing the duplicate specimens of mounted birds and 

 forming cabinet skins of them for the study collection has been continued. 



The Indian Elephant, presented to the Museum in May last by 

 Messrs. Barnum and Bailey, has been preserved. The skin was cured 

 and is now coopered in preservative fluid ready for stuffing ; the 

 skeleton was cleaned and buried in sand to macerate and the bones 

 are now almost ready for mounting ; various parts of the viscera 

 have been preserved for further anatomical investigation. 



(d) Loans. 



Several specimens of Birds (Myzomela Ufuensis and M. rubrocucidUtta ) 

 were lent to the Hon. Walter "Rothschild, for study at his Museum at 

 Tring, Herts. 



Fortv specimens of Birds (TurdidteJ were lent to Dr. Bowdler 

 Sharpe, British Museum. 



