84 Department of Zoology. 



1891-1892. Catalogue of British Hymenoptera. Andrenidae and Apidae. 

 By the late F. Smith. Pp. 236, with 11 plates. 1891. 8. 

 This is a reprint of the second edition published in 1876. 



Catalogue of the British Echinoderms. By F. J. Bell. Pp. 202, 

 with 16 plates. 1892. 8. 



A commencement was also made with issuing printed Instruc- 

 tions for Collecting for the use of travellers and collectors who are 

 desirous of benefiting the national Museum. The need appeared 

 to be greatest for those persons who wished to collect reptiles 

 and fishes, and consequently the first issue was limited to those 

 two classes. It was followed by instructions for collecting Mam- 

 malia, preserving Medusae, and collecting deep sea animals 

 attached to cables. 



GROWTH OP THE COLLECTION. 

 (1891-92.) 



In these two years 124,782 specimens were added to the 

 collection : 96,375 were donations, 26,704 were acquired by 

 purchase, and 1603 by exchange. More than one-half, 70,648, 

 were Insects. 



The accessions to the collection of Mammalia were of unusual 

 value and importance. 



First deserves to be mentioned the magnificent collection of 

 heads and horns of the big game of India and Central Asia, 

 formed and presented by Mr. A. 0. Hume, C.B. It consisted 

 of 223 heads, referable to about 36 species, besides a number of 

 duplicates. Many of them are of extraordinary development, 

 and some unrivalled in this respect. Before its distribution in 

 the Mammalian and Osteological Galleries the collection was 

 exhibited for some time as a whole in one of the corridors, and 

 much appreciated by the public. 



A set of 180 skins and 67 other specimens of Indian 

 Mammals, being part of the materials used by the donor in 

 preparing his work on the Mammals of India ; presented by 

 Dr. W. T. Blanford, F.R.S. 



Mr. St. G. Littledale made another contribution of quite 

 exceptional value to the collection of Mammals. He had under- 

 taken an expedition to the Caucasus with the distinct object of 

 obtaining specimens of the large game, and particularly of the 

 European Bison, which is nearly extinct, but was known to 

 occur there in a perfectly wild state. He was eminently successful, 



