112 ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



these, reference may be made to the display of a series of 

 skulls of Crocodilians to illustrate the passage from the long 

 and slender type characteristic of the Gharial to the short 

 and broad form distinctive of Alligators. The process of 

 weeding out undesirable specimens has been still further 

 carried out, and progress has also been made in the matter of 

 painting specimens. 



A number of coloured illustrations of reptiles (chiefly the 

 gift of Mrs. John Anderson) have been placed either in the 

 cases or in separate frames. 



The more important specimens presented for exhibition 

 purposes during the year are the following, viz. : — A green 

 Turtle, presented by T. K. Bellis, Esq. ; a South African 

 Tortoise (Testudo tentoria), to illustrate a new method of 

 mounting, presented by Dr. J. E. Duerden ; a Southern 

 Anaconda, presented by the Hon. Walter Rothschild ; a young 

 Gaboon Puff- Adder and a skull of an adult of the same species, 

 presented by Rowland Ward, Esq. 



The new cases in the spirit building have been completed 

 and the Batrachian collection has been arranged in them. 



Pisces. — During the year 63 specimens of fishes have been 

 restored and coloured according to published coloured figures 

 and descriptions, in continuation of the work referred to in 

 the last annual report. A series of 16 British salmonoid 

 fishes has been placed on exhibition in a special table-case. 

 Based upon the detailed descriptions and drawings published 

 by palaeontologists and upon actual fossils in the Geological 

 Department of the Museum, restored models have been 

 constructed of the following extinct fishes — Coccosteus, 

 Holoptychius, Eusthenopteron, Megalichthys (head only), 

 Osteolepis, Undina, Cheirodus, Chondrosteus, Hypsocormus, 

 Eugnathus, and Leptolepis. 



The south half of the Fish Gallery has been re-opened to 

 the public, and the north half, where re-arrangement is still 

 in progress, has been partitioned off. Of notable additions to 

 the Gallery may be mentioned a large Raia marginata, a large 

 Electric Ray, and a large Angler-fish. 



The card-catalogue of specimens selected for exhibition — 

 each card giving the British Museum register number, locality, 

 and history of the specimen, and the references to the figures 

 and descriptions from which it was coloured — has been 

 increased by 226 entries. 



The determination and arrangement of the collection of 

 Fishes from the Nile has been completed. The American 

 Fishes of the family Cichlidse have been re-arranged in 

 accordance with a recent revision. The new cases in the spirit 

 building have now been completed, and the Batrachian col- 

 lection has been removed to them ; this has made possible 

 the expansion and re- arrangement of part of the Fish 

 collection, with which considerable progress has been made. 



