88 ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



formed ; the preparation of a manuscript list of the Polyzoa 

 has been commenced, and the series exhibited at the western 

 end of the Coral Gallery has been rearranged. 



II. — Registration. 



The specimens obtained during the year, whether by pur- 

 chase or presentation, have been entered in the manuscript 

 registers of accessions, and the register numbers attached to 

 them. For future reference the date and mode of acquisi- 

 tion, the exact locality where the specimens were obtained, 

 the name of the collector, and any other particulars of interest 

 respecting them, are entered. 



III. — Conservation. 



As in previous years, the usual work of conservation has 

 been continued by dusting and cleaning, in rotation, the 

 exhibited specimens, placing the study - collections of 

 small Mammalia, Bird-skins, Shells, Dried Sponges, Corals, 

 Echinoderms, and Polyzoa in glass-topped boxes, renewing 

 the camphor in the wall-cases, store-cabinets, and some of 

 the insect-drawers, and the spirit of the collections preserved 

 in alcohol. Of other work coming under this heading the 

 following should be specially mentioned : — 



1. The specimens of Mammalia mounted for exhibition 

 were chiefly Game-animals, viz. : a Grant's Gazelle {Gazella 

 grantii); a Thomson's Gazelle ( Gazella thomsoni) ; a Pelzeln's 

 Gazelle {Gazella pelzelni) ; a pair of the singularly long- 

 necked Gerenook Gazelle {Lithocranius lualleri) ; a Pookoo 

 Antelope {Kohus vardoni) ; a Himalayan Argali (Ovis 

 hodgsoni) ; a Shapoo {Ovls vignii) ; a hairy-fronted Muntjac 

 { Cervulus crinifrons) ; and a Central American Brocket 

 ( Coassus sartorii ; ; also the skeleton of a Pacific Grey Whale 

 {Rhachianectes glaucus). 



One hundred and forty heads of the Hume Collection have 

 been mounted on blocks and distributed between the Osteolo- 

 gical and Mammalian Galleries. 



2. In consequence of the long interruption of work in the 

 farpenters' trade, none of the new cabinets intended for the 

 general collection of Skins and Eggs of Birds were received 

 during the year ; hence only the specimens of the family of 

 Gulls could be transferred from store-boxes to drawers ; but 

 two^ large cabinets were secured for the exhibition of a col- 

 lection of British Birds' Eggs, with the drawers constructed 

 for the use of visitors, in the same manner as in the collection 

 of Lepidopterous larvse. 



To 



