14 MUSEUMS. 



A commencement has been made also with the General Catalogue 

 of the Derby Museum on the Card-system. The cataloguing and 

 registering of the Bird Collection is proceeding pari passu with the naming 

 and labelling of the specimens. The Anthropoidea and Getacea have 

 also been catalogued. 



(c) Conservation. 



The usual work of conservation has been continued throughout the 

 year. The examination of the Spirit Collections — chiefly of Invertebrata 

 — long stored in the Spirit Boom, referred to in the last Report, has 

 been continued, and the preservative fluid in which they were kept, 

 restored. The arranging of them into groups has also been continued ; 

 but a considerable time must elapse before this work can be completed. 



The whole of the Collections have been periodically examined, dusted, 

 and kept free from moth and other pests. 



A large number, principally of skins of Birds, has been relaxed and 

 placed in the Study Collection. 



Numerous specimens of various Vertebrate groups have, as during last 

 year, been placed in Spirit or Formal for future histological use, or for 

 making preparations in illustration of exhibited specimens. 



A number of Marine Invertebrates were, during this summer, again 

 obtained at Port Erin and placed in Formal of various strengths, 

 to try the eflicacy of this new preservative for Museum purposes. The 

 specimens of Hydrozoa, Mollusca and Fishes experimented upon have, 

 in particular, been successfully preserved, with the retention of the 

 life-like condition of their tissues ; but most of them still, in time, lose 

 their natural colour, though far more slowly than when placed in spirit. 



(d) Loans. 

 Several species of Sandwich Island Birds were lent to the Hon. Walter 

 Rothschild for study at his Museum at Tring, Herts. 



(e) Presents. 



The number of gifts made to the Museum during the year has shown 

 uo falling off" as compared with last year. Many of these are valuable and 

 interesting specimens; butfew are of outstanding importance. Mr. Ridyard, 

 Chief Engineer of the S.S. " Niger," one of Messrs. Elder, Dempster and 



