Eighth Annual Report. 607 
bodies in Europe and America for the exchange of the ‘ Transactions 
of the Institute" for their own publications, and are of opinion that it would 
be advantageous to the Colony that such applications should, if possible, be 
acceded to. But as the funds at the disposal of the Governors render it 
difficult to carry this out, they venture to suggest that the annual grant 
should be increased by the sum of £100, which would enable them to 
comply with the requests made to them. 
Mvszvx. 
The new building was open to the public on 8rd January, and, up to 
the end of 8th July, 8,776 names have been entered in the visitor's book. 
The arrangement of the contents, however, is only provisional, as show- 
cases and other furniture ordered from England have not yet arrived. 
The total number of specimens received into the Museum during 1875- 
76 is 14,525 ; this ineludes about 13,090 specimens collected in the field by 
the officers of the Geological Survey Department. (See remarks under the 
head of Paleontology.) 
The packing and re-arrangement of the collections during the erection 
of the building occupied much time ; but, notwithstanding, material pro- 
gress has been made with the draft catalogues of the contents of the 
Museum, and a large series of new preparations are ready to be exhibited 
as soon as the cases can be arranged. Among these are 331 bird skins, 
which have been stuffed and mounted by the Taxidermist. The former 
eollections have also been cleaned and re-mounted. 
Herbarium.—The collection of New Zealand and foals: plants, esti- 
mated to comprise 5,000 species, has been thoroughly re-arranged on a 
convenient system for reference. An addition to the Herbarium of about 
10,000 species, presented by the Trustees of the British Museum, has been 
shipped from England. The Herbarium is entirely in charge of the Drafts- 
man, whose work in this branch comprises 40 lithographed plates, 50 
manuscript maps for the Geological Survey, besides a large number of 
Natural History drawings for the Department. 
Mammalia.—The most important addition under this head has been a 
type collection of 95 stuffed animals and 102 skeletons, received from the 
British Museum in exchange. 
Birds.—The skins and skeletons from the British Museum, noted in the 
list of donations, are the most interesting of those received. An increase in 
the duplicate specimens of New Zealand birds in the Museum has been 
made during the past year. A fine series of 911 North American birds’ 
eggs has been obtained by exchange with Mr. Buckley, of Birmingham. 
Reptilia.—Several fine specimens of the Tuatara lizard ( Sphenodon 
punctatus) have been presented by Mr. L. B. Wilson, of the Marine Depart- 
