18 BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY) 



nodules from diseased pedialps were identified by X-ray methods. Work 

 on deep-sea crystals of calcium oxalate and calcium citrate (earlandite), a 

 new mineral, and on ettringite was completed and published. Much 

 further work was done on the igneous rocks of Northern Turkana, Kenya 

 Colony, collected by Mr. Arthur Champion. The collections of Admiral 

 J. I. HoUingworth, Dr. J. W. Evans and Mr. I. T. Sanderson were examined 

 as well as specimens from Mr. Ashcroft's Swiss collection, and zeoUtes from 

 Mull. 



Work in the Department of Botany during the past year consisted 

 largely in the naming and incorporation of collections and the rearrange- 

 ment of specimens in accordance with recent monographs. Collections of 

 flowering plants from Ruwenzori, the Gulf of Guinea, Palestine, Tibet, 

 Bhutan, Borneo, and Greenland ; West Indian Ferns ; Arctic and Antarctic 

 hchens ; plankton from Palestine ; and Australian seaweeds, were studied : 

 and monographic work on various famiHes and genera was continued. 



Congresses, etc. 



Mr. J. Ramsbottom, O.B.E. represented the Trustees at the centenary 

 celebrations of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh in July. Dr. W. E. 

 Swinton attended as representative of the Museum the Annual Conference 

 of the Museums Association at Leeds in July. Mr. A. C. Townsend was 

 the Museum delegate at the Annual Conference of the Library Association 

 at Margate in June. Dr. H. D. Thomas attended the Annual Conference 

 of the South Eastern Union of Scientific Societies at Oxford in July. 

 Dr. W. D. Lang, F.R.S., directed a Whitsun Field Meeting of the 

 Geologists' Association at Charmouth. Mr. J. R. Norman and Mr. G. I. 

 Crawford attended a meeting of the " Challenger " Society at Edinburgh 

 in September in conjunction with the International Congress of Geodesy 

 and Geophysics. 



The Director and several members of the scientific staff attended the 

 meeting of the British Association at Blackpool in September. 



Advisory and Economic Activities. 



Dr. Caiman continued to represent the Trustees on the Council of the 

 British Freshwater Biological Association. Mr. N. B. Kinnear was 

 appointed to the Estates Committee of the National Trust. In the 

 Department of Zoology advice or assistance was given to various Govern- 

 ment Departments, pubhc bodies, companies and individuals regarding the 

 Fur Trade ; Whahng and SeaUng ; and the control of Rats, of the Grey 

 Squirrel, and of other pests. From time to time H.M. Customs referred 

 batches of plumage for opinion, and other problems connected with trade 

 were submitted. Attention was given to the problem of the pollution of the 

 sea by oil, particularly in its relation to birds. A large number of inquiries 

 regarding Arachnida, chiefly from Great Britain, were dealt with. Speci- 

 mens of Liponyssus bacoti, the tropical rat mite, continued to be received. 

 Inquiries were answered concerning the molluscan vectors of Schistosoma, 

 slugs and their effect on agriculture, the activities of marine-boring 

 MoUusca, and on the distribution of Gastropoda yielding mother-of-pearl, 



In the Department of Entomology advice was given with regard to 

 many household, commercial, and agricultural pests; and work in con- 

 nexion with the control of the bed-bug was continued in co-operation with 

 the Ministry of Health and the Medical Research Council. Assistance was 

 given in the production of a propaganda film on this subject entitled 

 " The Red Army." 



