128 REPORT— 1870. 



quisitions, the vexatious regulations concerning tlie examination of specimens, and 

 the miserahly insufficient accommodation for private study ; but all tliese things 

 •we may well hope to see altered in a new institution, and I will not take up time 

 by enlarging upon them. In conclusion, however, I will recapitulate the principal 

 topics touciied on in the following propositions, which I trust the members of the 

 British Association will agree with me in putting forward as the " platform " of 

 reforming naturalists. 



1. The administration of the new Museum of Natural History should be vested 

 in a director, who should be immediately responsible to one of the Queen's 

 ministers. 



2. The collections should be primarily divided into two serieS; — those intended 

 for public exhibition, and those reserved for private study. 



3. The collections for public exhibition should be arranged in their natural 

 order in one continuous series of galleries, so as to give the best possible general 

 idea of the principal forms of life and of their arrangement according to the natural 

 system. 



4. The collections for private study should be arranged in rooms immediately 

 adjacent to the public galleries, in such amanuerthat the corresponding portions of 

 them shovdd practically form but one series, and that the private student should 

 have access at all times to objects in the public galleries. 



5. A complete library of natural history should be furnished for the special use 

 of the institution, and be placed in some central portion of the building, equally 

 accessible to all departments. 



C. The collection of osteology, the spirit-preparations, the skins in store, the 

 series of British animals, the collection of " nests .and nidamental structures," and 

 all other subordinate collections should be amalgamated with the general series. 



7. The collections of the palajontological department shoidd likewise be amal- 

 gamated with the general series. 



The Natural History of Hainan. By Hobert Swinhoe, F.R.G.S. 



This is a sketch of the natural history of Hainan, based on the observations and 

 collections made by the author during his visit to the island, a narrative of which 

 was read before the Geographical Section. The botany, climate, and geology are 

 briefly touched upon ; tlien follow remarks on the mammals, birds, insects, and 

 shells which were collected, the affinities of the two former suggesting a wider 

 separation in former times of the island from the Chinese main and its closer con- 

 nexion with Cochin China. 



On Hyalonema and some other Vitreous Sponges. 

 By Professor Wya'ille Thomson, LL.D., F.Jl.S. 



On some of tJie EcMnoderms of the Expedition of H.M.S. 'Porcupine.'' 

 By Professor Wxville Thomson, LL.D., F.R.8. 



Note on tlie Growth of Lodoicea Seychellarum. By Mr. Tyerman. 



On the Structure of the Shell in the Pearly Nautilus. 

 By Henry Woodward, F.G.S., F.Z.S. 



After referring to the great interest attaching to the KautiUdcp. on account of 

 .heir vast geological and geographical range, the author proceeded to describe the 

 shell with its septa and siphuncle, the latter being only found in the Cephalopoda, 

 and nearly confined to the Tetrahranchiata. The camerated structure, however, is 

 found in many mollusca (as Spondyhts, Uuomphaliis, Vermctuft, &c.). The author 

 suggested that if any incipient character could be found leading up, as it were, to 

 the siphuncle, wo might fairly infer that it was only a more highly differentiated 



