110 ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



largest number of records during 1913, was greatly affected by 

 the abnormal conditions of 1914, and the year closed with a 

 total of 57 as compared with 76 in the previous year. 



Although the number reported has shown a falling off, the 

 evidence obtained with regard to the species stranded is much 

 more precise than in the preceding year, due to improved 

 arrangements for obtaining data. 



Among the specimens secured for the Museum in this way 

 was the entire skeleton of a Sowerby's Whale, a rare species 

 not previously represented by a skeleton in the collection. 



Information having been received in November of the 

 stranding of a large whale at Birchington, Kent, an officer was 

 sent from the Museum to make on the spot investigations 

 which would be useful in reconstructing the large models in 

 the Whale Room. The animal was found to be a Common 

 Rorqual, 61 feet Jong, which had apparently been killed by 

 collision with a mine. The pelvic bones were secured for the 

 Museum. 



The thanks of the Trustees are due to the Coastguard 

 officers and Receivers of Wreck who have given such valuable 

 assistance in this inquiry. A Second Report on the subject is 

 in preparation and will be issued early in 1915. 



Indian Mammal Survey. 



The Trustees have made a further grant to the Bombay 

 Natural History Society's Fund for the survey of the mammal 

 fauna of India. The Museum has received a large share of the 

 specimens collected during the survey, which is doing so much 

 to advance our knowledge of the mammalian fauna of India 

 {see B.M. Return, 1912, p. 104). This important undertaking 

 has, however, unfortunately been interrupted through the war. 



Robinson Expedition to Western Sumatra. 



The Trustees have contributed tov/ards the expenses of a 

 collecting expedition to Western Sumatra under the leadership 

 of Mr. H. C. Robinson, Director of the Federated Malay States 

 Museum in Kuala Lumpur. The Natural History Museum 

 will receive a share of the collections made in a part of the 

 world hitherto little explored from a zoological point of view. 



Wollaston Expedition to New Guinea. 



As an instance of the valuable scientific results obtained 

 and of the benefit accruing to the Museum by the despatch of 

 exploring expeditions, it may be mentioned that the collection 

 of plants made by Dr. A. F. R. Wollaston in his expedition to 

 Dutch New Guinea {see Return 1914, p. 126) has been found 

 on its being worked out to contain no fewer than 500 species 

 not previously known to science and eight new genera. 



An account of the collection, prepared by Mr. H. N. Ridley, 

 with the assistance of members of the Department of Botany, 

 will be published in a Report of the Results of the Expedition. 



