DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY. 113 



Department of Zoology. 



I. — Arrangement and Conservation. 



Mammalia. — In the exhibition series the gradual elimina- 

 tion of old and faded specimens and their replacement by new 

 ones, mounted according to modern methods, has been con- 

 tinued so far as opportunity and financial considerations have 

 permitted. The case for Langur and Guereza Monkeys in the 

 Upper Mammalian Gallery, alluded to in last year's report, 

 has been completed, with great advantage to the general 

 appearance of the Gallery and the display of the specimens. 

 The re-arrangement and repainting (green) of the eases con- 

 taining the smaller Garni vora in the Lower Mammalian 

 Gallery has been completed ; and two of the Uodent cases 

 have been similarly treated. A new case for Hares and 

 Rabbits has been installed in one of the bays rendered vacant 

 by the removal of the Elephants, thereby relieving the con- 

 gestion in the other Rodent cases. 



An unsatisfactory portion of the Lower Mammal Gallery 

 was the last bay on the north side, partly owing to over- 

 crowding and partly to the want of light in that particular 

 bay. An improvement has been effected by devoting the 

 darkest case entirely to skeletons, and by painting the 

 floor of the adjacent central case light green instead of 

 brown. As regards the overcrowded condition of the 

 other cases, this has been remedied by the removal of the 

 Bush-bucks to the West Corridor, where they have been 

 temporarily disposed among the existing cases, pending the 

 installation of a new one, which is already in order. The 

 repainting and re-arrangement of the other cases at the north- 

 west end of the Lower Mammal Gallery is still in progress. 

 The Antelope case in the West Corridor facing the staircase 

 leading to the Upper Mammal Gallery has been painted 

 green, with great advantage to the display of the specimens. 



Attention may also be directed to the mounting of the 

 almost unique male and female skulls of the Great Assam 

 Buffalo {Bo8 bubalis m^acroceros) in a conspicuous position at 

 the West end of the Lower Mammal Gallery. 



In the British Saloon much preliminary work has been 

 accomplished in regard to the preparation of a series of 

 groups of Mammals ; of these a group of Otters has already 

 been installed, and one of Water-Rats will shortly be ready 

 for exhibition. The large Mammal case has been painted 

 green. 



General conservation, rewriting and printing of labels, 

 when required owing to the progress of Zoology, have been 

 carried on as usual. 



Among the additions, noticed below, special attention may 

 be directed to the following, viz., a statuette, modelled by 



