MUSET.TUS. 5 



and lantern slides for lecture purposes, and which it is very desirable 

 should be increased in number. 



The most important event of the year was the return of thfc 

 Expedition sent by the Corporation to Sokotra, which was successful 

 in securing large collections of great scientific interest and value. 



The expedition consisted of the Director of Museums ; Mr. W. R. 

 Ogilvie-Grant, of the Ornithological Department of the British 

 Museum ; and Mr. J. W. Cutmore, Taxidermist of the Derby 

 Museum. It was aided by a contribution from the Government 

 grant of the Royal Society, by a vote of money and of instruments 

 from the Royal Geographical Society, and by a grant from the 

 British Association made at its meeting in 1898 at Bristol. 



The party left England on October 28th, 1898, and arrived in 

 Aden on November 18th. The entire voyage out was utilised in 

 making a collection of the minute organisms which abound in the 

 sea by sieving the water through very fine silk nets attached to the 

 discharge pipe of pumps, which, by the courtesy of the owners and 

 the caj)tain of the Manora, were allowed to work uninterruptedly 

 day and night. 



The members of the expedition, who on their arrival in Aden were 

 immediately received by the Political Resident, Brigadier-General 

 Creagh, V.C., were deeply disappointed to learn from him that, 

 owing to political difficulties which had arisen between the Indian 

 Government and the Sultan of Sokotra, it would be impossible for 

 them to proceed to their destination. The Resident had, before 

 their departure from England, cabled to the India Office in London 

 that they should be advised to postpone their visit, but, through 

 some unexplained cause, that information was not conveyed to them. 

 Their arrival in Aden was, therefore, naturally a surprise to the 

 Political Resident, who, in the fullest sympathy with the position 

 in which they found themselves, the same day despatched an urgent 

 message to the Indian Government, explaining the situation and 

 urging some speedy arrangement of the difficulty which had arisen, 

 so as to enable the expedition, if possible, to proceed to Sokotra. 



