102 ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



Spirit Building. 



The congested state of the building containing specimens 

 preserved in spirit has given the Trustees serious concern. It 

 has now become a matter of impossibility to keep these collec- 

 tions in order or in any scientific arrangement. The Trustees 

 have submitted the facts to the Treasuiy with a view to the 

 provision of funds for the extension of the Spirit building. 

 Their Lordships have promised to consider the matter in con- 

 nection with the Estimates 1910-11. 



Entomological Research Cor.imittee. 



With the concurrence and co-operation of the Trustees, the 

 Entomological Research Committee organised under the 

 auspices of the Colonial Office have established a Bureau at 

 the Natural History Museum for the acquirement and dis- 

 semination of information relating to disease-carrying insects. 



The Earl of Cromer has consented to act as Chairman of 

 the Committee, and Dr. Harmer, Keeper of Zoology, and 

 Mr. E. E. Austen, Assistant in charge of the Diptera or two- 

 winged flies, have been deputed to represent the Museum. 



Accommodation has been provided in the Museum for the 

 Secretary of the Committee (Mr. Guy Marshall). 



The Secretary of State for the Colonies has expressed his 

 appreciation of the satisfactory arrangements which have 

 been made by the Trustees for the instruction of Colonial Officers 

 in Entomology. 



Mr. E. E. Austen has also been placed on the Committee of the 

 Sleeping Sickness Bureau, as representing the British Museum, 

 and will act as Honorary Consulting Entomologist to the 

 Bureau. 



Lord Walsingham's Collection of Micro-Lepidoptera. 



By deed of gift, executed in November, 1901, Lord Walsing- 

 ham placed at the disposal of the Trustees, on certain con- 

 ditions, his magnificent collection of specimens of Micro- 

 Lepidoptera (the smaller moths) and the library of books 

 relating thereto. His Lordship having intimated his desire 

 to transfer the collection to the Museum by the beginning of 

 the financial year 1910-11, the Lords of the Treasury have, 

 at the request of the Trustees, readily agreed to provide the 

 increase of staflT necessary for the proper management of this 

 large accession, and the collection will be transferred to 

 Cromwell Road in the spring. 



The collection which thus passes into the possession of the 

 nation is by far the richest of the kind in the world. When 

 examined by the Museum specialist in 1901 it was officially 

 reported to the Trustees to contain over 200,000 specimens, in 

 a condition of preservation which left nothing to be desired, 

 and to include about nine-tenths of the recorded species. 



