Geology. 213 



1855. 



The valuable collection of Lower Tertiary Vertebrata, made 

 by Barbara, Marchioness of Hastings, was purchased this year. 

 Besides other specimens from Montmartre, near Paris, and from 

 the Mayence Basin, it comprised about 1500 bones and teeth of 

 Mammalia and Reptilia from the Eocene and Oligocene of Hamp- 

 shire and the Isle of Wight. 



A large collection of Silurian Invertebrata from Bohemia 

 was purchased from Mr. J. Barrancle. Many French Jurassic 

 Mollusca were also purchased, some from Mr. Tesson. Among 

 British Jurassic fossils, the most noteworthy were some fine 

 Apiocrini (Bradford Encrinites), purchased from Mr. Wood. 

 Tertiary Echinoids from Sind and Java were presented respec- 

 tively by Major (afterwards Sir) William Erskine Baker and 

 Mrs. Pfeiffer. 



1856. 



The most important acquisition by purchase this year was 

 the series of fossil bones of birds (chiefly the extinct Moas) and 

 other animals collected by the Hon. Walter B. D. Mantell in 

 New Zealand. The skeleton of Pachyornis elephantopus was then 

 reconstructed by Prof. Owen from the new material in this 

 collection. 



Mr. John Lubbock (now Lord Avebury) presented part of 

 the skull of a musk ox (Ooibos moschatus) discovered by him in 

 the Pleistocene Thames gravels at Maidenhead, Berkshire. Mr. 

 J. M. Geils presented some remains of Elephas armeniacus from 

 Asia Minor. 



Among numerous acquisitions of Invertebrata were two 

 valuable donations of Tertiary fossils from Jamaica and the 

 Canaries, presented by the Hon. Edward Chitty and Sir Charles 

 Lyell, Bart., respectively. 



Total number of acquisitions, about 6700. 



1857. 



The Tesson Collection, consisting chiefly of fossils from the 

 Jurassic formations near Caen, Normandy, was a remarkable 

 acquisition. Besides Invertebrata, it comprised some well-pre- 

 served fishes and unique remains of Teleosaurus and Pelagosaurus, 

 some of the latter described by Deslongchamps. 



Valuable additions were made to the collection of Pleistocene 

 Mammalia. Large series of bones and teeth of extinct marsupials, 



