94 ACCOUNTS, ETC., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



X. —British Museum (Natural History). 



STATEMENT of Progress made in the Arrangement and 

 Description of the Collections, and Account of 

 Objects added to them, in the Year 1902. 



General Progress. 



Visitors. 



The total number of visits paid by the public to the 

 galleries of the Natural History Museum in 1902 was 433,619, 

 as compared with 417,691 in 1901. The progressive increase 

 in the attendance on Sunday afternoons is still maintained, 

 61,035 visits having been recorded last vear as against 57,797 

 in 1901. 



The average daily attendance for all open days during the 

 year was 1,197 * 8 ; for week-days only, 1,201 ■ 8 ; and for 

 Sunday afternoons, 1,173*7. 



Electric Light. 



Further progress has been made with the installation of 

 electric light in the Museum. The work in most of the 

 studies has now been finished, but the lighting of the public- 

 galleries has been unavoidably retarded owing to the small- 

 ness of the sum (500^.) provided in the Estimates. 



Swiney Lectures. 



Dr. J. S. Flett delivered his second course of lectures on 

 Geology on the Swiney Foundation during the month of 

 November, the subject being "Our Scenery in some of its 

 Geological Aspects." The lectures were given, by permission 

 of the Board of Education, in the lecture-theatre at the 

 Victoria and Albert Museum, and were attended by an 

 average of 288 persons per lecture, as compared with an 

 average of 164 for the previous year's course. 



The Trustees have extended Dr. Flett's appointment for a 

 further term of two years, and have approved his proposal to 

 lecture next autumn on " The Volcanoes of the World." 



Volcano Exhibition. 



In view of the interest in the subject aroused by the 

 recent volcanic disturbances in the West Indies and other 

 parts of the world, a small temporary exhibition has been 

 arranged in the Central Hall to illustrate as far as prac- 

 ticable volcanic eruptions, their products, and associated 

 phenomena. 



