X REPORT ON MUSEUM WORK 



for US a series of eighteen cases illustrating all the groups of 

 the world's butterflies, and five cases illustrating mimicry in 

 different regions. For these cases he selected the specimens, 

 and finally drew up an excellent series of descriptive labels. 

 In this way, with his thorough knowledge of the subject and 

 of the collection, he saved us an immense amount of work, 

 and the subsequent installation of the cases, though quite a 

 long job, was a straightforward one. The descriptive labels — 

 typed, and with hand-printed headings — we have framed 

 behind thin glass and placed on the inside of the shutters 

 which protect the cases from light. When the shutters are 

 opened the labels thus confront the visitor, but do not take up 

 any of the exhibition space in the cases. We have since been 

 making up a few cases on a geographical basis, to illustrate 

 the butterfly fauna of particular parts of the world. Though 

 there is still a large collection left in the original cabinets, the 

 series of butterflies put on public view forms a splendid and 

 most attractive addition to our show-collections ; while 

 the illustrations of mimicry in all its phases are certainly 

 among the best things of the sort exhibited to the public 

 anywhere. 



In addition to the cases supplied from Dr. Eltringnam's 

 collection, we have made up four exhibition cases of British 

 butterflies and moths. The final portion of the work on the 

 Lepidoptera will consist in preparing a representative series of 

 the moths of the world. For this we have already looked out 

 a considerable amount of material from our store-cupboards, 

 but many of the specimens require re-setting and many 

 additional specimens are needed. By way of meeting this 

 deficiency, we propose to use the small balance of the Lepi- 

 doptera Fund for making occasional purchases of exotic 

 moths from the London sales. 



(f) Minerals. Mr. P. Walther continues his splendid work 

 on the mineral collection. During the last two or three years 

 he has analysed great numbers of doubtful minerals, examined 

 large quantities of store specimens, and thoroughly over- 



