10 MUSEUMS. 



will be available after the distribution of the Palgeontological Series as 

 just indicated, for the displuy of a well-selected series of British Flowering 

 Plants and illustrations of the Forest Trees of the country, with specimens 

 of their fruit and wood. 



Zoological Department. 



(a) General. 



During the past year a re-arrangement of the staff took place which 

 enabled the Committee to increase, by an additional member, the 

 scientific assistants in the Derby Museum. The appointment was given 

 to Mr. William S. Laverock, M.A., B.Sc, a distinguished graduate of 

 Aberdeen University, then one of the assistants to Dr. Alleyne 

 Nicholson, Professor of Natural History, and previously an assistant to 

 Dr. J. Trail, F.li.S., Professor of Botany in the same University. 



By the superannuation of the Caretaker of the Buildings, a post which 

 it had become unnecessary to re-fill, several rooms in the basement were 

 vacated. Two of these, havii g a good aspect, have now been temporarily 

 fitted up as Laboratories, out- for the Director's personal use, and the 

 other for his Zoological Assistants. Thus has been pi'ovided, though 

 still inadequately, some of the much-needed accommodation requisite 

 for research work and the preparation of specimens for exhibition. 



In November Mr. Herbert Robinson, who has devoted much attention 

 to Ornithology, kindly offered his services in assisting to catalogue the 

 Bird Collection in the Museum. As tliis was work urgently requiring 

 to be done, Mr. Robinson's services were gratefully accepted, and some 

 progress was made by him, during the month of December, towards this 

 much-desired end. 



By far the most important event in the history of the collections, 

 during the year, has been the acquisition by purchase of the Tristram 

 Collection of Birds. This is an historical Collection,' long recognised 

 among Ornithologists as one of the first importance. It was, if not the 

 last, almost the last, of the ;2;reat undispersed private collections which 

 were amassed by wealthy cultivators of this Science in England during 

 the past half century or more, nearly every one of which has now become 

 incorporated in the National Museum of Natural History at South 

 Kensington, either by gift or by purchase. No such general collections 

 are now being made. Ornithologists as a rule now restrict themselves — 



