DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL HISTORY. 95 



the lectures, for demonstrations in the Palseontological 

 Galleries of the Museum. This can, however, only be looked 

 upon as a temporary arrangement. 



The subject of Professor Nicholson's fourth course was 

 " The Bearings of Geology on the Distribution of Animals 

 and Plants." The lectures, 12 in number, were attended by 

 a total of 2,798 persons, giving an average of 233 at each. 



Dr. J. W. Gregory. 



Special leave of absence having been granted by the 

 Trustees to Dr. J. W. Gregory, an Assistant in the Depart- 

 ment of Geology, for the purpose of making collections in 

 British East Africa, he arrived in the month of March at 

 Mombasa, where he fitted out a small expedition of 40 

 Zanzibaris. He followed the ordinary Uganda road fur 450 

 miles, passing through Tzavo, Kibwezi, Machakos, and 

 Kikayu to Lake Naivasha. Thence across new ground he 

 reached Lake Baringo, explored this district, and crossed 

 Laikipi to Kenia. This mountain was ascended to the height 

 of 17,500 feet, some 3,000 feet higher than any previous 

 ascent ; five glaciers were discovered upon it, and an inte- 

 resting series of plants collected. The return march to the 

 coast was made down the valleys of the Thika-thika and 

 Sabaki. In addition to the considerable collections made for 

 the Museum, much new country was explored and mapped, 

 and the information thus obtained has been of use to another 

 Government Department. The geological observations made 

 by Dr. Gregory are of considerable importance as affording 

 data for a much more detailed geological map of this region 

 of Africa than has hitherto been possible. 



Pascoe Collection. 



The most important acquisition during the year has been 

 the Pascoe Collection of Insects, mainly Coleoptera, towards 

 the purchase of which a special grant of 2,000/. was voted by 

 Parliament. This magnificent collection was brought together 

 by the late Mr. F. Pascoe, f.l.s., who had been engaged in its 

 formation for about 45 years. It consists of about 49,000 

 specimens, the greater number of which are systematically 

 arranged and named, and includes over 3,000 type-specimens. 



Presents. 



Over 1,300 presents have been received during the year, many 

 of them embracing large numbers of specimens. The details 

 of all the more important of these will be found in the Reports 

 of the Keepers of the several Departments of the Museum, 



0.107. but 



