Growth of the Collection. 19 



The collection when received was in a perfect condition, and 1862-1869. 

 numbered about 81,500 specimens. 



The second was the Cunning Collection of Shells. Hugh Cuming 

 devoted four years to the exploration of the Pacific coast of 

 South America and of the South Pacific, and four other years 

 to the exploration of the Philippine Islands, in search of shells. 

 From the time of his return to England in 1840 to the end of 

 his life in 1865 his whole interest centred in enlarging this 

 collection, which was incomparably the richest possessed by any 

 private person or museum. All malacologists had to refer to it, 

 and every malacological work abounds in descriptions of species 

 in the Cuming Collection. It was purchased by the Trustees for 

 6000, a special grant for its acquisition being made by Parlia- 

 ment. "When it reached the Museum, it consisted of 82,992 

 specimens, representing 29,676 species or varieties. 



Of the extremely numerous sources whence additions next 

 in importance were derived, the following should be shortly 

 referred to : 



The Linnean Society of London in 1863 transferred histori- 

 cally interesting specimens to the Museum, among them the Sir 

 Joseph Banks Collection of Shells and Insects, containing types 

 of species described by Fdbricius ; Mammals and Birds, chiefly 

 from Australia, described in the Society's " Transactions " ; Mungo 

 Park's Sumatran and J. W. Bennett's Ceylonese Fishes ; Insects 

 described by W. S. MacLeay and John Curtis in the " Transactions." 



The Lords of the Admiralty presented the collections made 

 by Dr. R. 0. Cunningham during the survey of Magellan Straits 

 by H.M.S. Nassau, and comprising specimens of all classes 

 (1868-69). 



Dr. (afterwards Sir) John Kirk presented many specimens, 

 chiefly Vertebi*ates, collected by him during the Livingstone 

 Expedition in East Africa and at Zanzibar (1863 and following 

 years). 



The Indian Government presented a set of the collections 

 made by the naturalists of the Abyssinian Expedition, chiefly 

 Vertebrates, in 1869. 



A selection of Vertebrates from the Dutch Museum of T. G. 

 Van Lidth de Jeude was purchased : these specimens were left 

 by the owner without labels indicating their origin, but were 

 afterwards proved by Mr. Oldfield Thomas to be of great 

 historical interest, some having been in A. Seba's possession, and 

 figured in the " Thesaurus." 



Further selections were made from the collections sent home 



c 2 



