96 ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM, 



Central Hall. 



A second case, illustrating variation under domestication, 

 (that of the pigeons being the first) has been added to the series 

 in the entrance hall. This contains two groups, one of the 

 domestic fowl, in which the wild original form, the common, 

 jungle fowl of India, is shown together with the two most 

 remarkable deviations from the normal condition in opposite 

 directions, produced by careful selective breeding ; the Japanese 

 long-tailed fowls, in which some of the feathers (the coverts) 

 are upwards of nine feet in length, and fowls without any 

 trace of tail, even the bones being absent. The birds of the 

 latter race exhibited are from Holland, having been presented 

 by Herr A. J. Bicker Caarten. The second group illustrates by 

 prize specimens the changes that have taken place in the 

 canary bird since its first introduction from its native islands 

 nearly 400 years ago. The group of wild birds exhibited were 

 obtained in Madeira by Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant in April last. 

 For assistance in procuring the domestic birds, the Museum 

 is greatly indebted to Mr. W. H. Betts, Honorary Secretary of 

 the Bird Cage Club. 



General Library. 



The additions to the General Library during the j^past year 

 have been : — 



By purchase _ - - 569 volumes. 



By donation - - _ 382 volumes and 39 maps^ 



By transference from other 



Departments - - 11 volumes. 



Total - - 962 volumes and 39 maps. 



All these works have been catalogued, press-marked, 

 and placed on the shelves. 



The extent of this collection on the 31st of December was 

 24,445 volumes and 3,778 maps. 



