Beport. 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 Eeport, and the volume of Keports of the 

 Greological Survey for last year, have been issu.ed 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 palaeontology 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 II., 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 wiU 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 MoUusca, 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 Bii-ds, and the necessary illustrations 

 are in preparation. 



A systematic work on the Fishes, embodyuig information of a more 

 popular natm-e respecting the edible species, and very thoroughly illustrated 

 by wood-cuts, 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- 



