12 BRITISH MUSEUM. 



Numerous groups of birds, fishes and invertebrates, including insects, 

 were similarly studied, particular attention being given to the deep-sea 

 fishes collected by the Danish OceanograiDhical Expedition 1920-22, 

 of which a large series of specimens was retained for the Museum. 

 In the Geological Department a great part of the year's work was 

 occupied with the study of the remains of plesiosaurs and dinosaurs 

 and in the arrangement of the Buckman collection, comprising 25,000 

 , ammonites and brachiopods. A complete X-ray installation was 

 introduced in the Department of Minerals for the investigation of 

 crystalline structure, and the chemical laboratory in the same 

 Department was re-organized and partly re-equipped. Numerous 

 groups of plants were the subjects of special study, and the British 

 mosses were re-arranged on a more modern system. 



Advisory and Economic Activities. 

 vSir Sidney Harmer, K.B.E., F.R.S., continued during the year to 

 represent the Museum on the Colonial Office Committee responsible 

 for the investigations carried out by the '' Discovery " Expedition ; 

 and facilities and accommodation were given throughout the year for 

 the working out at the Museum of the " Discovery " collections by the 

 scientific staff of the Expedition. Mr. P. R. Lowe, O.B.E., continued 

 to serve on the Advisory Committee appointed by the Home Secretary 

 under the Wild Birds' Protection Acts. 



Dr. A. B. Rendle, F.R.S., Dr. L. J. Spencer, F.R.S., Mr. J. 

 Ramsbottom, O.B.E., and Mr. W. N. Edwards attended the meetings 

 of the British Association in South Africa. Valuable collections were 

 made, especially by Dr. Spencer and Mr. Edwards, who also attended 

 the International Geological Congress at Pretoria to which 

 Dr. Spencer was one of the representatives of H.M. Government. 



The Director and Dr. G. F. Herbert Smith attended the Annual 

 Conference of the Museums Association at Worthing from 1 to 5 July. 

 Dr. Herbert Smith also represented the Museum at the centenary 

 celebrations of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, 

 Durham, and Newcastle-on-Tyne. Mr. F. Laing attended the 

 International Congress on Apparatus used against Enemies of 

 Cultivated Plants at Lyons on 24 and 25 July, and Mr. B. H. Soulsby 

 the Annual Conference of Special Libraries at Cambridge from 20 to 

 22 September. Dr. A. B. Hastings and Mr. G. Tandy represented the 

 Museum at the Meeting of the British Waterworks Association held in 

 London on 21 November. 



Questions connected with the protection of the native fauna of many 

 parts of the Empire were studied, and advice was given to the Colonial 

 Office for the information of the Governments concerned. The 

 Museum continued to be consulted by public departments requiring 

 expert assistance in dealing with various problems. 



In relation to economic matters specimens were named for a great 

 number of enquirers and in many instances advice was given. Research 

 students were given access to the collections and assisted in their 

 investigations in all Departments throughout the year. 



Among the more interesting of the questions upon which advice 

 was given from the Department of Zoology during the year were 

 problems connected with the fur trade, the infestation of buildings 



