6 Department of Zoology. 



1856-1861. occupying considerably more space than was justified by the size 



of the shells, and exposing the specimens to deterioration by dust 



and the gum applied to them ; this mode was abandoned by 

 Dr. Gray's successor, who introduced the use of glass-topped 

 boxes of various sizes, but multiples of a certain unit. They are 

 adapted for specimens of any but very large size, and a great 

 economy of labour and space was effected by this method. A 

 very small number, especially Cephalopods and Pteropods, were 

 preserved in spirit. The whole collection of Mollusca (exhibited 

 as well as in store for study) may be estimated to have been 

 about 50,000 in the year 1856. 



The general arrangement of the collection was maintained 

 in a fair state of efficiency, but the naming of the specimens 

 could not be kept up with their increase in a uniformly 

 satisfactory manner, especially as Dr. Baird's time was 

 chiefly occupied in mounting the new arrivals. However, 

 the acquisition of some important historical collections, 

 like that made during the voyage of H.M.S. Sulphur, 

 Webb and Berthelot's from the Canaries, MacAndrew's and 

 Gwyn Jeffreys' from the Mediterranean and Atlantic Coasts, 

 Ramon de la Sagra's from Cuba, Chitty's from Jamaica, 

 D'Orbigny's from South America, Eydoux and Souleyefs from 

 the voyage of the Bonite, and particularly Gray's systematic 

 labours on some of the families or on numerous miscellaneous 

 additions, introduced a large proportion of named specimens into 

 the collection. Quite a series of small catalogues and lists of 

 various groups of Mollusca were published by the Trustees under 

 Gray's authorship, or by his initiative and under his supervision, 

 between the years 1849 and 1857, but they were unequal as 

 regards scope and plan, and remained merely fragmentary 

 attempts at cataloguing the collection. 



6. For the arrangement of the Polyzoa Dr. Gray enlisted the 

 help of George Busk, who commenced a descriptive catalogue of 

 the marine species in 1852. This was for a very great proportion 

 based upon materials in Busk's private possession, but all of them, 

 with the microscopic slides prepared by him, were transferred to 

 the Museum at a much later date. 



7. No separate study-collection worth mentioning of Crustacea 

 existed in 1856 and for some years afterwards, and it seems that 

 this want of material was the cause of the abandonment of a 

 " Catalogue of Crustacea," of which one part only appeared 

 (1855), T. Bell being the author. A. White had to name the 

 specimens in the Museum, and whilst engaged in this work he 



