BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY). 99 



X. — British Museum (Natural History). 



STATEMENT of Progress made in the Arrangement and 

 Description of the Collections, and Account of 

 Objects added to them, in the Year 1906. 



General Progress. 



Visitors. 



The total number of visits recorded as having been made 

 to the Museum by the public during the year 1906 was 

 472,557, as compared with 566,318 in 1905. This number 

 included 61,151 visitors on Sunday afternoons, as against 

 70,084 in the previous year. 



The average daily attendance for all open days was 

 1,301 • 8 ; for week-days only, 1,322 • 8, and for Sunday 

 afternoons, 1,176. 



Siviney Lectures. 



The subject of Dr. R .F. Stharff' s first course of lectures 

 on the Swiney foundation was " The Geological History of 

 the European Fauna." The lectures, 12 in number, were 

 again given in the theatre at the Victoria and Albert 

 Museum (by permission of the Board of Education) in the 

 month of November, the hour for commencement being 

 experimentally altered from 5 to 6 p.m. 



The average attendance for the course was 160, as 

 compared with 328 in 1905. 



Neiu Drainage System. 

 The drainage of the Museum b}^ an improved system has 

 been completed, the work having been carried out by His 

 Majesty's Ofiice of Works, &c. 



Electric Lighting. 



The electric light having been installed in the studies 

 throughout the building, the First Commissioner of His 

 Majesty's Works, &;c., has been asked to submit a plan for 

 lighting the galleries' for the consideration of the Trustees. 



Heating Apparatus. 

 The heating apparatus, which has been in use since 1880, 

 having become very defective, the Trustees have been in 

 communication with the First Commissioner of His Majesty's 

 Works, &c., with reference to a new installation of pipes, 

 &c. for warming the building. A scheme prepared by the 

 Chief Engineer of the Board of Works for the better heating 

 and ventilating of the Museum is under consideration. 



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