BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY). 19 



(c) The protection of animals in Tonga Island and British 

 Honduras. 



(d) Whaling statistics in Southern waters. On this subject 

 attention has been drawn to the very significant diminution in the 

 catch of Humpback Whales during recent years. A Committee 

 has been formed for the Dependencies of the Falkland Islands, 

 including in its terms of reference the consideration of a scheme 

 for an investigation into Whales and other problems in the Antarctic. 

 On this Committee the Natural History Museum is represented by 

 Dr. Harmer. 



(e) The possibilities of a fishing industry in South Georgia, with 

 special reference to a certain species known as Notothenia rossii. 



(/) The preservation of Elephant-Seals in South Georgia. 

 Reports have been received furnishing information as to the relative 

 abundance of these animals during different months of the year, 

 the general impression produced by a perusal of which is a satis- 

 factory one, inasmuch as it appears that the effect of sealing 

 during recent years has not been a marked reduction of the stock of 

 Elephant-Seals, the evidence indicating that they are still abundant. 

 The Colonial Office has been informed that the Trustees regard with 

 satisfaction the suggested establishment of a Seal Reserve at South 

 Georgia. 



(g) Sponge culture in the Bahamas. 



(li) The acclimatization of Reindeer in South Georgia. The 

 experiment of introducing these animals has met with considerable 

 success, inasmuch as from the 17 individuals imported seven years 

 ago at least 62 are known to have sprung. It has been recom- 

 mended that fresh stock should be imported from Norway to 

 strengthen the breed. 



In reply to an inquiry as to the possibility of exterminating 

 Land-leeches in the Tropics, information has been furnished as to 

 the life-history and mode of life of these animals. 



Lord Swaythling has generously provided a sum of money 

 sufficient to defray the expenses of a zoological collector for one year,, 

 to wo!-k for the benefit of the Museum in ex-German East Africa. 



Mrs. Anderson, widow of the late Dr. John Anderson, f.r.s., 

 formerly Director of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, has bequeathed 

 to the Museum the heads and horns of 10 mammals, six of the 

 sjteciiuens being specially mentioned in Dr. Anderson's " Mammals 

 of Egypt" (1902). 



Tiie mounted specimens received during the year from the 

 Tru tees of the Rowland Ward Bequest include examples of 

 Mandrill, male and female, from the Cameroons ; Grevy's Zebra^ 

 male, from British East Africa ; Yellow Baboon, Red Howler 

 Monkey, White-headed Saki Monkey, Illiger's Marmoset, Indri, 

 Tiipaia, tusks of Water Elephant, Toy Bull-terrier, 67 Birds for 

 the Gallery, and 44 Birds for the exhibit " Birds and Agriculture." 



The total number of gifts received during the year by the 

 several Departments was 1,280. Many of these comprised large 

 numbers of individual specimens. 



