Growth of the Collection. 27 



compensated by the extraordinary proportion of valuable and 1870-1874. 

 interesting specimens. 



Of Mammalia, the collection was enriched by the purchase of 

 most welcome series from Madagascar and Abyssinia : the former 

 included specimens of the Ruffed Lemur, showing the extra- 

 ordinary individual variation of this species; they are still 

 exhibited in the Gallery. The latter consisted of a number of 

 large animals, among them the skeleton of a Giraffe. A series 

 of very interesting forms from Colombia was purchased of the 

 collector, Mr. J. K. Salmon. Some of the most interesting types 

 of the Cetacean Collection were acquired in this period, among 

 them the specimen of the Piked Whale that stranded at Weymouth 

 (1871), skeletons of Kogia breviceps from New South Wales, of 

 the Fresh-water Dolphin of the Ganges and Indus, of Grampus 

 griseus (two skeletons and one stuffed), also a skeleton of the 

 Antarctic Right Whale (Balaena australis), and others. 



The collection of Birds was enriched by the purchase for 

 1000 of Mr. A. E. Wallace's series of Malayan birds. He had 

 retained for himself the best specimens which he was able to 

 obtain during his travels, 2474 in number, representing about 

 1000 species, many of them being unique or types. Of other 

 remarkable additions should be mentioned the Gould Collection 

 of Falcons, a portion of the Sharpe Collection of African birds, 

 and the Swinhoe series of Hainan birds : all purchased. 



The most important acquisition for the Reptilian branch was 

 the purchase of the collection made by Colonel E. H. Beddome 

 in Southern India. In his position as Conservator of Forests in 

 the Madras Presidency he had unusual opportunities for collect- 

 ing in districts rarely or never before visited by naturalists. 

 The Museum had previously received from him several smaller 

 consignments, but this collection consisted of 1518 specimens, 

 well illustrating the Reptilian Fauna of the Hill-district of 

 Southern India. A second Indian collection of Reptiles and 

 Batrachians, containing a number of species named by the 

 donor, was presented by the late Mr. T. C. Jerdon after his return 

 to England. Of other donations, one from the Academy of Sciences 

 of St. Petersburg, containing many named species of Reptiles and 

 Batrachians (and Fishes) from the southern and eastern parts of 

 the Russian Empire, deserves particular notice. A large collection 

 of Reptiles and Batrachians from North Borneo was purchased 

 and described in a separate report. 



To the collection of Fishes some 4000 specimens were added 

 by donation, exchange, or purchase ; they were received from 



