DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY. 101 



Department of Zoology. 



Ic — Ai^rangement and Conservation. 



Matnmalia. — In the exhibited series the work of mounting, 

 labelling, arranging, etc., the various acquisitions has been 

 continued as follows : — 



In the Upper Gallery of Mammalia the chief improvement 

 made during the year is in the Bat Case, which has been 

 lined with black velvet, while the majority of the spirit 

 specimens have been mounted in larger vessels and relabelled. 

 The series of anthropological photographs exhibited in the 

 gallery has been largely increased ; most of the enlargements 

 having been made under the supervision of Dr. H, 0. Forbes, 

 the Director of the Liverpool Museum, by whom they were 

 presented. Some additions have been made to the collection 

 of busts, skeletons, and casts, among which particular atten- 

 tion may be drawn to the skeleton of a Congo Dwarf, 

 presented by Sir Harry Johnston. 



In the West Corridor alterations have been made in 

 many of the centre cases by putting the mounted skins 

 upon artificial groundwork instead of wooden stands ; the 

 groups are thus made much more instructive and interesting 

 to the public. Among the cases that have been treated 

 in this manner are those containing the Kob Antelopes, 

 Blesboks, Elk, Wild Sheep, Zebras, Kangaroos, and Seals. 

 It is hoped that further progress in the same direction may 

 be made during the current year. No new cases have been 

 purchased during the year for either of the Mammalian 

 Galleries or for the North Hall, although the one now- 

 containing the Okapi has been lengthened. The Trustees 

 are, however, indebted to the Hon. Walter Kothschild, M.P., 

 for the large case containing the specimens of the Elephant- 

 Seal, presented by himself, and the Antarctic Seals given by 

 Sir George Newnes, Bart., which are some of the most 

 valuable additions of the year. 



Very considerable progress has been made in the work of 

 arranging the specimens in the cases in a more effective and 

 less formal manner, and also in replacing old, faded, and 

 badly mounted specimens by new ones. This is, of necessity, 

 a work of time, and much remains to be done. Many of the 

 cases are too much crowded, but this cannot be remedied 

 until funds are provided for additional case-room. In 

 addition to replacing old specimens by new ones, many old 

 skins have been remounted in a more modern manner. 



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