BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY). 89 



IV. — Exhibitions. 



Two table-cases containing Greek Coins, and two table- 

 cases containing German, Dutch, and modern European 

 medals, have been withdrawn from the North Gallery for 

 want of space. 



v.— Visitors to the Medal Room and the Oold 

 Orna'inent Room. 



The number of visitors to the Medal Room during 1890 

 was 1,988. 



The number of visitors to the Gold Ornament Room during- 

 1890, was 19,128. 



Reginald Stuart Poole. 



VIII. — British Museum (Natural History\ 



STATEMENT of Progress made in the Arrangement and 

 Description of the Collections, and Account of 

 Objects added to them, in the Year 1890. 



Central Hall. 



Many preparations have been added to the series illustrat- 

 ing the introduction to general animal and vegetable 

 morphology arranged in the alcoves around the Central 

 Hall of the Museum, and two new cases have been placed 

 in the body of the hall. One of these illustrates external 

 variation according to age, sex, and season, as exemplified in 

 the well-known bird, the Ruff (Machetes pugnaoc). Males 

 and females are shown in the winter plumage, when both 

 sexes are exactly alike externally, except as regards size. A 

 large group occupying the lower part of the case shows the 

 adult birds in the plumage they assume in the breeding time 

 (May and June). In the female the only alteration from the 

 winter state is the darker and richer coloration, but in the 

 male there is a special growth of elongated feathers about 

 the head and neck, constituting the "ruff" from which the 

 bird derives its name. There is also a striking diversity of 

 colour in different individuals, of which twenty-three are 

 exhibited, no two being alike. Specimens of the eggs, newly- 

 hatched young, and young in autumn plumage are added to 

 complete the life-history of the species. Many of the birds 

 in this case were presented by Mr. Henry Seebohm, two by 

 the Leiden Museum, the others were purchased. 



The second case is intended to illustrate the subject of 

 0.81. Protective 



