Birds. 165 



appears to have been increased somewhat, as the plan of the 

 Table-cases shows an addition of two to their number. 



In Room VIII. the order of the Birds is once more slightly 

 changed, and some additions have been made since the last 

 " Synopsis," such as the " Manura " from New Holland, and the 

 Argus Pheasant. The " Scarlet Curlew " of previous editions is 

 now correctly called the " Scarlet Ibis." Dr. J. E. Gray was 

 appointed assistant in the Zoological Department in 1824, and a 

 change in the classification and arrangement in the Mollusca in 

 the Bird-room appears to have taken place. 



Booms IX. and X. contained Petrifactions and the British 

 Oryctognostic collection. 



Boom XI. The British Birds are housed here, and the 

 collection of eggs is arranged along with the birds, in separate 

 glass cases, their numbers corresponding to those affixed to the 

 mounted specimens. Cases 23 and 24 contain nests, windpipes, 

 and other parts of various British Birds. An " Alphabetical 

 List of the English names of the Birds in this room " is also 

 printed. 



The 23rd edition of the "Synopsis," 1826, is almost a 

 verbatim reprint of that of 1824 (also called the 23rd edition), 

 as far as the natural history collections are concerned. 



The next edition of the " Synopsis " in our Museum Library 

 is that of 1832 (twenty -sixth edition), and the book has now 

 grown to be a small volume of 236 pages, being again printed 

 by G. Woodfall, Angel Court, Skinner Street. C. Konig was 

 Keeper in 1832, and J. E. Gray and G. R. Gray were both 

 assistants. This " Synopsis " shews a great improvement in 

 descriptive work, and the collections have been much advanced, 

 particularly as regards the Mammalia, many additions from 

 Sir E. Parry's Arctic voyages being recorded. 



On the first landing-place of the great staircase are a Musk 

 Ox, from Melville Island, and a Polar Bear, "procured in the 

 late Arctic expeditions, and presented by the Lords of the 

 Admiralty." On the upper landing are a male and female Girafie, 

 or Camelopard, from South Africa, presented by W. J. Bur- 

 chell, Esq. ; a Great Seal, said to be from the north-west coast of 

 Britain, and an Ursine Seal, presented by Capt. Fitzroy, R.N. 



In this account of the Museum attention is drawn to the 

 various ethnological collections presented to the nation by 

 Captain Cook and Sir Joseph Banks, whose names are specially 

 mentioned as donors, as well as that of Mr. Archibald Menzies. 



