54 accounts, etc., of the british museum. 



British Museum (Natural History). 



STATEMENT o£ Progress made in the Arrangement and 

 Description of the Collections, and Account of Objects 

 added to them, in the Year 1915. 



General Progress. 



Visitors. 



The total number of visits made by the public to the Natural 

 History Museum during 1915 was 433,581, as compared with 

 420,914 in 1914. 



The attendance on Sunday afternoons was 48,409, as against 

 46,960 in the previous year. 



The average daily attendance for all open days was 1,194 ; for 

 weekdays, 1,238 ; and for Sunday afternoons, 931. 



It will be noted that the figures for 1915 show a considerable 

 increase on those for 1914. 



Classes of London County Council School Teachers have again 

 visited the Museum under the guidance of Mr. Leonard, the Official 

 Guide, who has given them a series of demonstrations in the 

 galleries. 



Parties of wounded soldiers from the hospitals in and around 

 London have visited the Museum in large numbers, and the services 

 of Mr. Leonard have been in constant demand to explain the exhibits 

 to the men. Warm appreciation of his services in this capacity has 

 been expressed by the hospital authorities and soldiers. 



Swiney Lectures. 



Dr. J. D. Falconer gave his second course of Swiney Lectures 

 in November and December, the subject being, " Ice and the Ice 

 Age." 



The lectures, twelve in number, were delivered in the theatre at 

 the Victoria and Albert Museum, and were attended on an average 

 by 143 persons a lecture, as compared with 122 in the previous 

 year. 



Museums Association. 



A report on the proceedings of the Annual Conference of the 

 Museums Association, held in July at the Victoria and Albert 

 Museum, was submitted by Dr. Bather, who represented the Natural 

 History Museum at the Conference. The two main subjects for 

 discussion were, " Museums and the War" and " Museums in relation 

 to Education." The members visited the Natural History Museum, 

 where demonstrations were given by some of the staff. 



The War. 



Up to the end of the year 1915, 58 members of the staff of the 

 Natural History Museum have joined the Colours, with the permission 



