Report. 469 
time to the selection and thorough arrangement of a complete mineral and 
fossil collection, comprising over 2,000 specimens, for the Sydney Exhibition, 
from the stores of the Geological Department. This collection is to be 
illustrated by a special report, with maps and sections, bringing up the 
knowledge of the subject to the latest date, so as to furnish complete material 
for a conference with Australian geologists, the result of which may be of 
considerable advantage to this colony. 
PUBLICATIONS. 
The Museum and Laboratory Report, and the volume of Reports of the 
Geological Survey for last year, have been issued during the recess, and 
those for the current year are now ready for the press. A large amount of 
the material, both letterpress and plates, is in readiness for the first of a 
series of publications illustrative of the palæontology of New Zealand. The 
earliest-issued parts of this work will comprise the Fossil Flora and the 
Brachiopoda of the Lower Mesozoic formations. The illustrated work on 
the grasses of New Zealand, by Mr. Buchanan, is making good progress, 
considering the difficulties to be contended with in bringing out such an ex- 
tensive and laborious work. Parts I. and IIL., comprising twenty-one folio 
plates, were issued last year, and Parts III. and IV. are now ready for the 
binder. The letterpress of the remainder of the work is now in the printer’s 
hands, but some months will be required to complete the plates. 
The whole of the work is being reprinted in a cheaper form, in octavo, 
for general circulation, the folio plates being reduced by photo-lithography 
as soon as impressions are obtained, so that the small-sized volume will be . 
ready for issue immediately on the completion of the larger work. 
The great advance in our knowledge of the natural history of the country, 
and the demand which exists on the part of students for the various descrip- 
tive catalogues that have been issued by the department, all of which are 
now out of print, have rendered the preparation of fresh editions necessary. 
A complete revision of the Mollusca, by Professor Hutton, will be the first 
of this series, and is now in the press. Dr. Buller has undertaken the pro- . 
duction of a revised handbook of the Birds, and the necessary illustrations 
are in preparation. 
A systematic work on the Fishes, embodying information of a more 
popular nature respecting the edible species, and very thoroughly illustrated 
by wood-euts, is also in an advanced state, and arrangements have been 
made for completing the series in other sections of zoology. 
A most valuable original work on the Coleoptera of New Zealand, by 
Captain Broun, has been placed at the disposal of the department for publi- 
cation, and Government has authorized the necessary expenditure. This 
work, which has involved great labour in its preparation, contains descrip- 
