144 ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



Though a mineralogist can no longer satisfactorily attempt 

 to keep abreast of scientific knowledge and undertake scien- 

 tific work in more than one of the above three branches of 

 the subject (physical, petrological and chemical), such a sharp 

 limitation of the work of the assistants would be contrary to 

 the interests of the Museum ; hence, as far as possible, it is 

 arranged that each assistant has the opportunity of acquiring 

 a general knowledge of the specimens preserved in the 

 department, and of thus becoming more useful to the public 

 during the absence of his colleagues. 



Three Attendants. — One is specially employed in the prepara- 

 tion of thin sections of minerals and rocks for examination 

 with the microscope ; a second is charged with the arrange- 

 ment and cataloguing of the Departmental Library ; the third 

 with the more mechanical work of the Chemical Laboratory. 



The general duties of dusting the cases, the packing and 

 unpacking of specimens, copying, &c., are also performed by 

 the attendants. 



Tiuo Boy-Attei\dants. — They attend on the superior officers 

 as required, are charged with the sale of the departmental 

 guides, and do a large part of the simpler mechanical work, 

 such as the filling of trays with clean cotton-wool. 



General. 



A new edition of the Students' Index to the Mineral Col- 

 lection has been issued. 



A descriptive Catalogue has been made of the facetted 

 ornamental stones (722 in number), each specimen being 

 examined and redetermined for this purpose. 



The chemical examination of a New Zealand meteorite has 

 been finished. 



The examination and description of Xanthoconite and Fire- 

 blende have been completed ; and a quantitative analysis of 

 Fergusonite from Ceylon has been made. 



Crystallographical and optical determinations have been 

 made of Quartz from North Carolina, Spangolite from Corn- 

 wall, and Whewellite from Saxony. 



Seventy-three specimens have been chemically examined ; 

 thirty-one specific gravity determinations have been made. 



Progress has been made with the selection of a series of 

 specimens to form an introduction to the study of rocks. 



Experiments have been made with various fittings pre- 

 paratory to the rearrangement of the case of polished speci- 

 mens at the entrance to the Mineral Gallery. 



A selection from the valuable mineral collection of the late 

 J. M. Williams, Esq., presented by J. C. Williams, Esq., M.P., 

 has been labelled and arranged for temporary exhibition in 

 two window-cases. 



Numerous 



