11 



Library in cases of real importance, or to interfere in any 

 degree with the Publications of the Society. The present 

 condition of these several departments, and their progress 

 during the past year, will be learned from the folloM'ing de- 

 tailed statements : 



1. Museum. 



The continued augmentation of this rich and varied Col- 

 lection, which, in the value and rarity of its general mate- 

 rials already vies with the great National Museums of the 

 Continent, and in particular groups of Birds and Mammals 

 stands altogether unrivalled, make it a constant som'ce of an- 

 xiety to the Council, on account of the limited space neces- 

 sarily appropriated for its exhibition, the insufficiency of 

 light and the general inconvenience of the premises, which 

 interfere with that constant and unceasing care and at- 

 tention which are absolutely necessary to its preservation. 

 The Council are therefore unwilling to encumber the al- 

 ready crowded shelves by having more specimens mounted 

 than are actually necessary ; a large portion of the Collection 

 is consequently preserved in store, where, though unavail- 

 able for the purposes of exhibition, it is at all times access- 

 ible to the Fellows of the Society or to Scientific Zoologists. 



The diffei-ent classes of animals preserved in the Museum, 

 particularly the Vertebrata, have received considerable ac- 

 cessions, both in the number of species and individuals, du- 

 ring the past year. The whole number of Mammals at 

 present amounts to 1794, of which 800 are examples of di- 

 stinct species ; 245 specimens, of which 40 are species new 

 to the Museum, have been added since the last Anniversary. 

 Of Birds there are 5418 specimens, including about 3000 

 species, actually mounted and exhibited, besides about 

 3400 in store. This portion of the Collection has been in- 

 creased during the past year by donations and purchases to 

 the amount of 530 specimens, of which many were distinct 

 species, and many others new to the Museum. The Mam- 

 mals have all been named and labelled, and considerable 

 progress has been made in preparing a catalogue of the 



