114 ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



Zebra {Equus grevyi), presented by A. B. Percival, Esq. ; and 

 a white Rook [Corvus frugilegus), presented bv W. B, Gibbins, 

 Esq. 



AVES. 



The remounting of specimens in the General Gallery has 

 been continued, and the families Oxyrhamphidse and Tyrannidse 

 have been nearly completed. 



The entire collection of bird-skins has been rearranged in 

 the cabinets to make room for the additions, some 70,000 in 

 number, which had accumulated during recent years, and which 

 could not be incorporated owing to the crowded state of the 

 drawers. All these additions have now been registered and 

 labelled and are rapidly being put away in their proper places. 

 The number of incorporated specimens to be dealt with, 

 amounting to about 700,000 skins and formerly occupying .320 

 cabinets, have been spread over 379 cabinets, now available ; 

 the extra cabinets utilised include 44 of the old type placed in 

 the passage connecting the two bird rooms and 11 smaller top 

 cabinets of a new type, specially designed to accommodate the 

 larger Birds of Prey and Vultures. 



The labour of this move, which entailed the shifting of 

 almost every drawer, has been great, but the result is eminently 

 satisfactory, and for the first time for years there is now ample 

 room not only for the present vast collection but for any 

 specimens likely to be added for many j^ears to come. 



A special new Catalogue has been prepared, and marked so 

 as to show the exact position of each species, and it will soon 

 be possible to find any specimen required without loss of time. 



The total number of specimens in the skin collection of 

 birds numbers nearly 800,000 specimens at the present time ; in 

 1872 it was estimated by Dr. Sharpe at 20,000 skins. 



In the collection of eggs, work has been continued, and a 

 large number of additions have been incorporated, labelled, and 

 neatly arranged in boxes filled with cotton-wool. 



All the cabinets in the Bird Room have been carefully 

 examined for moth, and camphor has been placed in every 

 drawer where it was considered necessary. 



The naming and relabelling of the Gould collection of 

 Humming-birds has been completed. 



Mr. D. A. Bannerman has given valuable assistance in 

 working out various collections, in labelling the cabinets and 

 drawers under the new arrangement, and in preparing a number 

 of old collections for incorporation. 



The Committee appointed by the Secretary of State for the 

 Colonies to inquire into the question of the destruction of 

 Plumage Birds, including Mr. C. E. Fagan, I.S.O., Dr. Harmer, 

 and Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, to represent the Museum, has 

 completed its investigation and has sent in its report. 



