department of zoology. 105 



Depaetment of Zoology. 



I. — Arrangement and Conservation. 



Mammalia. — In the exhibition series the great feature 

 of the year's work of conservation has been the addition 

 of a glass-case, placed in the East Corridor, for the three 

 giraffes presented by the Hon. Walter Rothschild, Major 

 Powell-Cotton, and Mr. Victor Buxton. The painting of this 

 case is not yet finished, and the remaking of the groundwork 

 has not been commenced. In the adjacent case a fine series 

 of giraffes' heads have been arranged, and near by the original 

 strips of skin which afforded the first evidence, in this country, 

 of the existence of the Okapi have been exhibited. In the 

 same part of the Museum a new case has been added for the 

 exhibition of the White-tailed Gnu. 



In the West Corridor artificial groundwork has been 

 constructed for the Sable Antelope case, thereby completing 

 the whole of the cases in this part of the Museum in this 

 respect. The Sambar Deer case in the Lower Mammal 

 Gallery has likewise been fitted with groundwork. The 

 removal of the Elephants from the Lower Mammal Gallery, 

 mentioned in last year's report, has permitted the re-arrange- 

 ment of the Carnivora cases, which have been painted 

 green, and the expansion of the Rodent series, with the 

 addition of a new case for the Hares. In this gallery, also, 

 new screens are being erected for the Rhinoceroses, to replace 

 the temporary ones made last year. 



A large spare case has been transferred from the East 

 Corridor to the Upper Mammal Gallery, and in this the 

 Langur Monkeys will be arranged, thus relieving the present 

 congestion in the large Monkey case. In the North Hall new 

 cases have been installed for the exhibition of the series of 

 skulls and of the series illustrating the evolution of the 

 horse. 



The tusks of Elephants exhibited in the Geological De- 

 partment have been remounted by the stafiT of the Zoological 

 Department, in whose custody they remain. Arrangements 

 are being made for the mounting and exhibition of the large 

 Indian Elephant's skull presented two years ago by Mr. Wyat, 

 for which wooden tusks, modelled from the originals, are 

 being prepared. 



In the Whale Room nothing noteworthy has been done. 



A group of Foxes has been placed in the British Pavilion. 



Special attention has been paid during the year to the 

 labelling of specimens. Under the orders of the Director, the 

 labels have in many cases been amplified and elaborated. 

 Throughout a large part of the Lower Mammal Gallery the 

 labels, which had become soiled, have been replaced. 



Much time has been spent on general conservation and on 

 the elaboration of details, as specially ordered by thf Director. 



