102 ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



(d.) The donation of the collection of Lepidoptera formed 

 by the late Henry Tibbats Stainton, Esq., f.r.s. Although 

 with regard to the number of specimens and species, far 

 surpassed by the Pascoe Collection, this collection neverthe- 

 less rivals the latter in respect of its scientific and historical 

 value. Mr. Stainton was one of the most eminent Entomolo- 

 gists of his time, who not only, as editor of three journals, 

 devoted to this branch of science, and as author of several 

 standard works, advanced Entomology as a popular pursuit, 

 but who, by his researches into the life-histories of Micro- 

 lepidoptera, laid the foundation of their study in this country. 

 The whole of his collection consists of 33,569 specimens ; 

 of these, the materials on which his principal works are 

 mainlybased, are by far the most important ; therefore, they 

 will not be incorporated in the general collection, but be pre- 

 served by themselves in their original arrangement as the 

 " Stainton Collection." 



This collection has been presented to the Trustees by Mr. 

 Stainton's widow, who was his constant companion in all his 

 work and travels, and who has supplemented her donation 

 by the additional gift of her husband's entomological corre- 

 spondence, and of an extremely valuable series of beautifully 

 executed drawings of the larvae of Microlepidoptera, many of 

 which are still unpublished. 



(e.) Messrs. Godman, Salvin, and Seebohm have enriched 

 the collections of Birds and Insects by further consignments, 

 which, together with the collections mentioned, have swelled 

 the total number of Zoological specimens acquired in 1893 to 

 130,185, a higher number than has ever been reached before 

 within the period of a single year. 



(/.) Finally, it is with extreme regret that the Keeper of 

 the Department has to report that the progress of arranging 

 and cataloguing the collection of Corals has been suddenly 

 interrupted by the premature death, from heat-apoplexy, of 

 Mr. George Brook at the early age of 36 years. The Trustees 

 had engaged for this work the services of Mr. Brook two 

 years ago ; and no better evidence of the high qualifications 

 of this talented man could be found than the volume of the 

 " Catalogue " which he prepared in that period, and which 

 was published only a few months before his death. 



I, — Arrangement. 



1. The additions to the collection of Mammalia, have been 

 entered in the Catalogues as soon as they w^ere examined and 

 named. 



2. The arrangement of the Study Collection of Bird-skins 

 has proceeded with the progress of the " Catalogue " ; and 

 included the specimens catalogued in volumes 21, 22, and 23. 

 The second cabinet, containing the exhibited Eggs of British 

 Birds, has been completed. 



•) r I'.v-; .1 3. The 



