92 ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



certain that the Proboscidea, the centre of distribution of 

 which has long been a doubtful question, must have origi- 

 nated in this region, probably on a large land area to the 

 south. Other important discoveries in this locality will, no 

 doubt, be made, and will throw light on many obscure 

 questions of geographical distribution. Thanks are specially 

 due to Captain Lyons for kindly permitting Dr. Andrews to 

 accompany his assistants on these expeditions. 



Some small collections of mammals, birds, and insects were 

 also made. 



Exploration in Tripoli. 



At the instance of Mr. J. I. S. Whitaker, a benefactor to 

 the Museum, permission was obtained from the Turkish 

 Government, through the Foreign Office, for Mr. Edward 

 Dodson to travel in the interior of Tripoli, for the purpose 

 of making collections of Na,tural History ; Mr. Whitaker, 

 who provided the funds for the expedition, agreeing to 

 present to the Museum a share of the specimens obtained. 



His Majesty the Emperor Menelek. 



The Trustees have received a letter from the Emperor 

 Menelek II., acknowledging in friendly terms the address 

 and publications sent to His Majesty {see last year's Return, 

 p. 96), and giving assurance of help and protection to all 

 English people who may go to Abyssinia in the interest of 

 science. 



Economic Zoology. 



Under the arrangements sanctioned by the Lords of the 

 Treasury last year, the services of Mr. F. Y. Theobald have 

 been secured for advising the Board of Agriculture on 

 questions of Economic Zoology. Mr. Theobald's report on 

 the work done by him in this connection will be found at the 

 end of the report of the Department of Zoology, under 

 the heading " Economic Section."* 



In connection with the subject of Malaria Investigation 

 many additional collections of Mosquitoes from various parts 

 of the world have been received and worked out during the 

 year. The Monograph of Mosquitoes, by Mr. F. V. Theobald, 

 referred to in last year's Return under the heading " Malaria 

 Inquiry" (p. 95), was published in December (3 volumes, 

 8vo).t 



Correspondence has taken place between the Colonial 

 Office and the Director with reference to a report on the 

 development of the Marine Resources of the West Indies by 

 Dr. Duerden, Curator of the Museum of the Institute of 



<■■ Note.— See p. 128. 

 f Note. — For full description, see p. 96. 



