New Zealand Institute. 579 
proper cabinets have been provided for their reception, so that this special 
gift from the Trustees of the British Museum, which numbers 28,000 species 
of plants for reference, is still inaccessible to students. 
Natural History Collections —The detailed study and classification of the 
collection is rapidly advancing, and arrangements have been made with the 
Education Department to secure the services of a wood engraver, so that 
the illustrations for the new editions of the Natural History Catalogues, 
which are now out of print, may be obtained in a form that will admit of 
their being also used for the illustration of elementary text-books for the 
use of schools. 
Mammalia.—The classification of the New Zealand Cetacea has under- 
gone revision, and the results, so far as they relate to the larger forms, have 
been published in the Transactions of the Institute (“On the Whales of the 
New Zealand Seas,” by Dr. Hector. Vol. X., p. 331). 
The most important addition to the collection of this section has been a 
fine skeleton of the Whale-killer (Orca pacifica), presented by the Royal 
Bociety of Tasmania. 
Birds.—' The principal additions to the collection of birds during the 
year, was obtained by exchange from the private Museum of Mr. Macleay, 
F.L.S., at Sydney. 
Fishes.—Very extensive additions have been made to the alcoholic col- 
lections in this department, 860 specimens having been received, including 
a typical collection of the Australian sea and river fishes; a small collection 
of Polynesian fish made by Lord Hervey Phipps; and a series of the fishes 
of the Atlantie Coast of the United States, contributed by the Smithsonian 
Institute. 
The collection of New Zealand fishes has been greatly extended and 
improved by the substitution of fresh preparations. 
Invertebrata, —' The additions in this section number 887, and consist 
chiefly of Australian Crustacea, Echinodermata, and Mollusca, and a large 
series of preparations of the New Zealand Mollusca to facilitate the study of 
the soft parts of the animals. 
Mention has also to be made of a valuable collection of New Zealand 
Insects, 87 in number, collected and presented by the Rev. Father Sauzeau, 
of Blenheim. 
Ethnological.—The only important addition has been a collection of the 
weapons of the Isle of Paris (New Caledonia) natives, the most interesting 
of which are sling-stones made of steatite, which are projected from a sling 
made of cloth spun from the hair of the flying fox. 
Minerals.—In addition to the various mineral and rock specimens 
obtained by the Geologieal Survey, a very valuable series, n ing 400 
