BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY). 98 



Jamaica, recommending the carrying out of certain investi- 

 gations which the Director believes would lead to economic 

 results of practical value. 



The Director has also been in communication with the 

 Foreign Office and with the Governments of the Soudan, the 

 East Africa Protectorate, the British Central Africa Pro- 

 tectorate, and British South Africa, regarding the ravages 

 committed in tropical Africa by Locusts, White Ants, and 

 Tsetse-flies ; and advice has been given with reference to the 

 prevention and destruction of these pests. 



The correspondence on these and allied subjects will be 

 printed and published. 



Purchases. 



Among the more important acquisitions by purchase made 

 during the year, special mention may be made of the second 

 portion of the Leech Collection of Asiatic Moths, consisting 

 of 5,127 specimens of Noctuidse, including 406 types ; a 

 record tusk of Elephant, weighing 236 lbs., and measuring in 

 length 10 ft. 4 ins. on the outer curve, 9 feet on the inner 

 curve, and 8 ft. 4 ins. from base to top in a straight line ; a 

 series of models of the malarial parasite ; some fine crystals 

 of green Beryl and Rubellite, from Russia ; and the second 

 half of the Bescherelle herbarium of exotic mosses and 

 hepatics, consisting of 6,226 Muscinese. 



Bequest. 



By the will of the late Mr. Philip Crowley, the Museum 

 has come into possession of a large selection from the 

 extensive collections of Birds' Eggs and Insects formed by 

 the testator. 



The number of eggs chosen for the Museum was 15,150, 

 including an Qgg of the Great Auk ; an interesting feature of 

 the collection being the series of Cuckoos' eggs with those of 

 the foster-parents, of which 87 different clutches have |been 

 selected. By this bequest the number of eggs in the Museum 

 collection has been increased by nearly one-third. 



The total number of insects selected for the Museum was 

 26,285, mostly exotic Lepidoptera, the number of species 

 being about 9,900. In all the orders new and valuable 

 additions have been made to the Museum collection. 



Presents. 



The number of separate presents reported as having been 

 received during the year by the several Departments of the 

 Museum was 1,819, as compared with 1,689 in 1900. Many 

 of these comprised large numbers of individual specimens. 

 The details of the more important of them will be found 

 in the Reports of the Keepers of Departments, but the 



