16 Department of Zoology. 



1862-69. 



CONDITION OP THE COLLECTION. 



1862-1869. No noteworthy changes were made during this period in the 



exhibition in the public galleries; newly acquired specimens which 



appeared to be specially adapted for the purpose were constantly 

 added, such as the group of Gorillas, Balseniceps, Viviparous Fish 

 from Vancouver Island, etc. Dr. Gray directed the whole strength 

 of the staff to the work of incorporating the acquisitions, which 

 involved much revising of previously arranged material. He 

 himself now devoted his time entirely to the revision and 

 cataloguing of several sub-orders of Mammalia. Gerrard, who 

 had catalogued some 700 skeletons and 3550 skulls, belonging to 

 1200 species, continued to maintain this tine collection in perfect 

 order. Mr. G. R. Gray, who had to deal with comparatively few 

 acquisitions, was engaged without intermission in determining the 

 specimens of Birds, preparing the materials for his " Handlist of 

 Genera and Species," and revising the whole of the Woodpeckers 

 and Game-birds. Dr. Giinther incorporated the numerous addi- 

 tions to the collection of Reptiles, assisted, in later years as far as 

 Lizards were concerned, by A. "NV. E. O'Shaughnessy ; the whole 

 of the Snakes were named and systematically arranged ; they 

 amounted in 1866 to 5000 specimens of 827 species ; the arrange- 

 ment of the other orders of Reptiles and Batrachians was also 

 maintained. But the principal work after his appointment on 

 the permanent staff was to continue the arrangement of the 

 Fishes ; he completed it within this period, although the last 

 volume of the catalogue was issued by the printer only in the 

 following year (1870). The collection at this time was found to 

 have risen from 16,000 (1858) to 29,300 specimens. 



The collection of Shells was increased in 1866 by the acqui- 

 sition of the Owning Collection of 83,000 specimens (see p. 19) ; 

 its amalgamation with the series already in the Museum could not 

 be undertaken immediately. This was a matter of many years' 

 work ; therefore, the collection was left as a whole for the 

 present ; unfortunately, before it was permanently placed in 

 cabinets, the greater part of the specimens were transferred from 

 the drawers lined with sheet wool in which Cuining had kept 

 them, and gummed on tablets by Mrs. Gray, sometimes causing 

 confusion and disfiguring many examples. Shortly after the 

 purchase of this collection, Dr. Baird had the help of an addi- 



