Rejyort, 465 



Natural History Collections. — Improvement has been made in the classi- 

 fication of the collections ; but, still, it is found impossible to effect any 

 proper systematic arrangement without additional space, more especially in 

 the zoological section. 



Mammalia. — The collections under this head have been re-arranged, and 

 are now more conveniently placed for reference, full information regarding 

 each order being given on tickets in the cases. Among the most important 

 additions are a complete skeleton of Delphinus forsteri, obtained by purchase ; 

 the skull of the male DoUchodon layardii, presented by Dr. MuUer, of Blen- 

 heim ; and a collection of marsupiate animals from Kawau Island, presented 

 by Sir George Grey. 



Birds. — The chief additions in this branch are a black skylark (Alauda 

 arvensis), presented by Mr. George Hall ; a fawn-coloured variety of the 

 native pigeon (Carpophaga novcB-zealandia) , by Mr. Wise ; a male lyre bird 

 (Menura superba) ; and two specimens of the shy albatross, obtained by 

 purchase. Dr. Duller records the first occurrence of this latter bu'd on the 

 New Zealand coast in a paper in the Transactions of the New Zealand 

 Institute, Vol X., p. 217 (1877). The collections under this section have 

 increased very considerably, but cannot be fairly represented until further 

 space is provided. 



Reptiles. — Several fine specimens of the tuatara lizard (Sj^henodon punc- 

 tatmn) have been received from Captain Fairchild, who obtained them on a 

 rocky islet near Tauranga. A number of specimens of the more common 

 kinds of lizard have also been received. 



Fishes. — Although not many additions have been made to this class, 

 some interesting specimens have been received — viz., Trachichthys trailli, 

 collected by Mr. McKay, of the department ; Argentina decagon, the type of 

 Mr. Clark's new species ; and Trypterygiwn jenningsi and Notothenia p)arva, 

 new species fi-om the Auckland Islands, described by Professor Hutton, of 

 Dunedin. 



Invertebrates. — A large collection, comprising Marine Mollusca, Sponges, 

 Polyzoa, Crustacea, and Echinoderms, was obtained by Mr. T. W. Kirk, of 

 the department, on the west coast of the North Island, and a collection of 

 corals and shells from Japan was presented by Mr. H. S. Tiffen, of Napier.- 

 Many other interesting specimens were received, the principal being the 

 beak, cuttle-bone, and suckers of a monster cuttle-fish, the body of which 

 measured lift. 



Ethnological. — The most interesting additions under this section are the 

 head of a supposed Moriori god, carved in pumice, presented by Mr. A. 

 Clough, of the Chatham Islands ; a typical skull of the Polynesian race, by 

 Dr. Hector ; specimens of gritstone, used by the Maoris for grinding down 



