I 



BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY). 19 



(c) The protection o£ animals in Tonga Island and British 

 Honduras. 



_ (d) Whaling statistics in Southern waters. On this subject 

 attention has been drawn to the very significant diminution in the 

 catch of Humpback Whales during recent years. A Cotntnittee 

 has been formed for the Dependencies of the Falkland Islands, 

 including in its terms of reference the consideration o£ a scheme 

 for an investigation' into Whales and other problems in the Antarctic. 

 On this Committee the Natural History Museum is represented by 



Dr. Harmer. /^ • u 



(e) The possibilities of a fishing industry in South Geo rgia,_ with. 

 special" reference to a certain species known as Notothenia rossii. 



(/) The preservation of Elephant-Seals in South Georgia. 

 Reports have been received furnishing information as to the relative 

 abundance of these animals during different months of the year, 

 the general impression produced by a perusal of which is a satis- 

 factory one, inasmuch as it appears that the effect of sealmg 

 durino- recent years has not been a marked reduction of the stock of 

 Elephlnt-Seals, the evidence indicating that they are still abundant.. 

 The Colonial Office has been informed that the Trustees regard with, 

 satisfaction the suggested establishment of a Seal Reserve at South 

 Georgia. 



(a) Sponge culture in, the Bahamas. 



Qi) The acclimatization of Reindeer in South Georgia. The- 

 experiment of introducing these animals has met with considerable 

 success, masmuch as from the 17 individuals imported seven years 

 ago at least G2 are known to have sprung. It has been recom- 

 mended that fresh stock should be imported from Norway to 

 strengthen the 'breed. • .• ' 



In reply to an inquiry as to the possibility of exterminating 

 Land-leeches in the Tropics, information has been furmshed as to 

 the life-history and mode of life of these anirnals. 



Lord Swavthling has generously provided a sum ot money 

 -sufficient to defray the expenses of a zoological collector for oneyear, 

 to work for the benefit of the Museum in ex-German Last Atrica. 



Mrs. Anderson, widow of the late Dr. John Anderson, F.R.s. 

 formerly Director of the Indian-Museum, Calcutta, has bequeathed 

 to the Museum the heads and horns of 10 mammals, six ot the- 

 l- specimens being specially mentioned in Dr. Andersons "Mammals 



' o£ Egvpt" (1902). , «, fKo- 



The mounted specimens received during the year flom the- 

 Tru^tees of the Rowland Ward Bequest include examples ot- 

 Mandrill, male and female, from the Cameroons ; G^revys Zebia 

 male, from British East Africa; Yellow Baboon, Red Hovler 

 Monkev, White-headed Saki Monkey, lUiger s ^'^'^^^"^ 

 Tupaia; tusks of Water Elephant, Toy Bd -terrier 6- Bnd= toi 

 the^Gailerv, and 44 Birds for the exhibit "Birds and Agnculturc 



The total number of gifts received during the yeor b^ he 

 several Departments was 1,280. Many of these compr..>d la.g. 

 numbers of individual specimens. 



