DEPAKTMENT OF ZOOLOGY. 85 



Department of Zoology. 



Like its predecessors, the year 1891 has been signalised by 

 several magnificent donations and important additions, which 

 will be mentioned hereafter ; but the two principal events 

 refer rather to the conservation and arrangement of the 

 zoological collections : — 



1. The first is the enlargement of the building which contains 

 the collections of specimens preserved in spirit. The building- 

 was originally planned so as to allow for a triple increase of the 

 collections accumulated in the Museum at Bloomsbury. How- 

 ever, the increase of these collections in the short period of 

 twelve years far exceeded calculations that had been based 

 upon the experience of former years. It was caused chiefly by 

 the reception of the " Challenger " Collections, the extent of 

 which became known only when they were actually worked 

 out, and is now illustrated by the reports filling more than 

 thirty quarto volumes ; by the reception of large series from 

 the International exhibitions ; and last, though not least, by 

 the progress of the modern mode of investigation, which 

 requires a larger number of specimens and a more perfect mode 

 of their preservation than that which satisfied the systematic 

 zoologists of two decenniums ago. In consequence, the build- 

 ing, the area of which covered a space of 119 feet by 47, had 

 been filled to overflowing. Great difficulties were experienced 

 by all engaged in the work upon these collections, but they 

 have been removed by a liberal grant made by the Lords 

 Commissioners of the Treasury, which allowed of an extension 

 of the building by 63 feet. The new partis already roofed in, 

 and may be ready for occupation within the next twelve months. 



2. The arrangement of the collection of Birds' Eggs. In the 

 old Museum this collection consisted of a small number of 

 specimens of more or less great historical value, and of an 

 imperfect series of deteriorated specimens of the British species, 

 which were exhibited in three table cases. The first import- 

 ant addition was received in the " G^uld " Collection, pur- 

 chased in 1881; other miscellaneous series followed; and, 

 finally, the magnificent donations of Europo-Asiatic species 

 by Messrs. Godman, Salvin, and Seebohm, and of Indian eggs 

 by Mr. A. O. Hume, added so much to the number of speci- 

 mens, and imparted such a great value to this collection, that 

 its systematic arrangement could be no longer delayed. At 

 the same time the formation of a perfect series of British 

 Birds' Eggs for exhibition and consultation by the public had 

 become more and more urgent. A requisite grant having 

 been made by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, Mr. 

 Seebohm undertook the work of arranging both the general 

 and the British series ; and in the course of this year he has 

 made such progress that about 24,000 specimens, belonging to 



0.108. F 3 fifteen 



