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 Eoyal 

 Society of Tasmania. 



Birds. — The principal additions to the collection of bu'ds 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, 360 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 Atlantic 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. 



Invertehrata. — The additions in this section nixmber 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, 37 in number, collected and presented by the Eev. 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 shng 

 made of cloth spun from the hair of the flying fox. 



Minerals. — In addition to the various mineral and rock specimens 

 obtained by the Geological Survey, a very valuable series, numbering 400 



