26 Department of Zoology. 



1870-1874. a standard work on the order, and as a lasting monument of 

 the author. He followed it up with his monograph of Insecti- 

 vores, intending to prepare afterwards a catalogue of this order 

 for the British Museum ; but the trying and exhausting labours 

 connected with this research broke down his health, which had 

 been already enfeebled by repeated malarial attacks. He died 

 in 1895. 



It was estimated that the preparation of a Catalogue of Birds 

 on the same lines as the preceding would take not less than from 

 ten to twelve years, and result in the publication of at least as 

 many volumes. But Dr. Giinther, in recommending Mr. Sharpe 

 for this work, relied upon the well-known enei'gy and enthusiasm 

 of this young ornithologist, who had already given evidence 

 of his great abilities and power of application. Neither he 

 nor Mr. Sharpe anticipated that the work would take about 

 double that time, grow to twenty-seven volumes, and require the 

 co-operation of ten additional specialists. On the other hand, the 

 catalogue fulfilled everything expected from it. Apart from 

 the fact that it is the standard work for all engaged in systematic 

 ornithological work, the unparalleled growth and development of 

 the Bird collection are in great part, if not wholly, owing to it. 

 Probably all the private collectors who during the years of its 

 progress were induced to place their own cherished collections in 

 the British Museum, did so because they saw that they would be 

 kept under conditions under which they were most likely to be of 

 use for the advancement of science. A comparison of the material 

 on which the first three volumes of the catalogue were based, with 

 that embodied in the last three, will amply prove the immense 

 importance of these catalogues.* 



GROWTH OF THE COLLECTION.' 

 (1870-74.) 



In these five years close upon 67,500 specimens were acquired, 

 giving an annual average of 13,500 specimens. But for the two 

 largest acquisitions, which consisted of Shells and Coleoptera, 

 the accessions were more equally distributed among the various 

 branches than usual ; and the diminution in number was fully 



* The earlier volumes have been out of print for some time ; and if a 

 new edition of the catalogue should be prepared, it might be advantageous 

 to detach the lists of specimens from the descriptive part, and to issue 

 them in a separate volume. 



