142 ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



The large topographical collection of rock specimens has 

 been re-arrangecl. 



A series of typical rock specimens has been selected and 

 arranged for exhibition. 



The preparation of a series to serve as an Introduction to 

 the Study of Rocks has been begun. 



Most of the drawers containing the rocks have been fitted 

 with card-trays. 



One hundred and nineteen microscopic sections of rocks and 

 meteorites have been prepared ; eleven meteorites have been 

 faced and polished for etching. 



Departmental Library. 



To the Departmental Library have been added 209 separate 

 works (in 126 volumes), 119 memoirs and pamphlets, and 

 18 parts of works not yet completed. 



Of the above, 37 volumes were acquired by presentation or 

 transfer ; all of them, including 903 plates, have been registered 

 and stamped. The titles and cross-references relating to 97 

 volumes, 737 memoirs and pamphlets, and 25 maps, have been 

 prepared for the Museum Library Catalogue. 



Visitors. 



The number of visits recorded as made to the department 

 for purposes of consultation and study is 623. As the gallery 

 is now open daily to the general public, and the mineral col- 

 lections are so exhibited and described that reference to the 

 officers of the department on the part of students is generally 

 unnecessary, it is practically impossible to estimate the 

 number of visits made to the department for the purpose of 

 study alone. 



Acquisitions. 



One thousand six hundred and one specimens have been 

 acquired during the year 1890 ; namely, 586 minerals, 980 

 rocks, and 35 meteorites. These have been registered, num- 

 bered, labelled, and incorporated with the collection. The 

 more important of them are named below : — 



Ifinerals. 



By Presentation : — 



Silver-ores ana minerals. Broken Hill Mines, New South 

 Wales ; by Money Wigram, Esq. 



Metalliferous ores. Northern Territory, South Australia ; 

 by Mrs. H. Bovill. 



Pyrrhotite; Morro Velho, S. America; and Gold, Sierra 

 County, California ; by F. Tendron, Esq. 



Retinite ; 



