Auckland Institute, 551 
the Council on the subject, offering, on his part, to provide a competent instructor and to 
bear all the expenses of the school if the Institute would grant the use of their lecture- 
room for the purpose. This proposal was accepted by the Council, and the school has 
now been in operation for some time. From twenty to thirty students have been in - 
attendance, and the results promise to be in every way satisfactory. 
A complete list of all additions to the Museum will be found appended, so that it will 
only be necessary to mention here those of special importance in the different classes. 
1. Mammalia.—The only additions in this class are an interesting collection of bats, 
made by Mr. Parsons in the Friendly Islands, tps some eis specimens of Ornitho- 
ares and a few Marsupials, presented by Mr. H. A. H. Monr 
. Birds.—Four hundred and thirty-five ibis have been SA during the year. 
Of re about 200 are of New Zealand species, collected partly to supply deficiencies in 
the type collection, and partly for exchanges with foreign museums. From the Australian 
Museum, Sydney, 103 skins have been forwarded, principally of Australian species. A 
` collection of 60 European species has also come to hand from the Geneva Museum. Mr. 
Parsons has presented 61 skins, all obtained on the island of Vavau, one of the Samoan 
Group. Under the head of Oology should be mentioned a series of European birds’ eggs, 
forwarded in exchange by the Geneva Museum, and some of New Zealand species contri- 
buted by Mr. T. H. Potts, of Canterbury. 
3. Fishes and Reptiles.—The most noteworthy addition is from Mr. Parsons, of 
Vavau, and is especially valuable, not only from the number of species, but also from the 
large number of duplicate specimens which will be useful for exchanges. The Institute 
is also indebted to Captain Fairchild, of the s.s. Hinemoa, for a number of Tuatara 
lizards (Sphenodon), obtained on Karewa Island, near Tauranga. 
4. Invertebrata.—The collection of New Zealand Mollusca in the Museum has been 
largely inereased during the year, and a few small parcels of foreign species have also 
been received, principally from the Polynesian Islands. A series of Swiss Coleoptera, 
also of Crustacea from the south of Europe and the Mauritius, are among the exchanges 
received from the Geneva Museum. An excellent collection of butterflies from New 
Britain and New Ireland, forwarded by the society's old friend, the Rev. G. Brown, must 
also not be overlooked. 
5. Ethnology.—A set of plaster casts of the heads of Polynesians of different races, 
taken from models obtained during the expedition of Dumont D’Urville, has been received 
from the Paris Museum of Natura] History. From Mr. H. N. Rust, of Chicago, U.S., 
comes a very interesting collection, including crania of the Flat-head Indians, also of the 
ancient Mound-builders of the Mississippi Valley, with specimens of their peculiar 
pottery, stone adzes, flint arrow-heads, etc. 
6. Geology and Mineralogy.—A type sotiestion of 400 specimens of rocks, purchased 
in London from the well-known mineralogist, Mr. I. R. Gregory, has been received, but 
still remains unpacked, there being no cases available in which to place it. Several 
small contributions of New Zealand rocks and minerals have been made, but nothing 
calling for special mention, 
New Fittings.—Additional accommodation for stuffed birds and mammals has been 
obtained by the erection of a large show-ease along the south side of the Museum Hall. 
The cost—£106—has been liberally defrayed by a friend of the Institute, who, however, 
desires that his name should not be made publie, About 300 birds and 30 mammals 
have been mounted and placed on exhibition during the year, but nearly all the skins 
received during the past twelve months still remain packed up in cases, the funds of the 
