ACCOUNTS OF BRI'l'l.s^H MUSEX/M: 1840. 



Department or Natir/jl History. 

 Mineralogical Branch. 



Since June 1838, the whole of the mineralogical and geological collections have been 

 transferred into the new gallery on the north side of the north fiont. 



The fossil vegetable remains, increased threefold durmg the last twelve months, have 

 been arranged in the easternmost compartment of this gallery, and the specimens, with few 

 exceptions, have been determined, prepared and labelled, and the whole disposed into orders 

 and genera. 



The greater part of the Pachyderniata and Edentata, formerly exiiibited in tlie east wing, 

 added to by specimens of considerable magnitude, have been re-arrahged in the adjacent 

 compartment to the west, and a collection of fossil Emydosaurian reptiles, chiefly furnished 

 by Dr. Mantell's Museum, has been partially arranged in the central compartment. 



Subsequently to the last return, the keeper of the minerals and fossils has subjected to 

 examination, numbered, prepared and catalogued 2,701 objects. 



Among the acquisitions most valuable may be specified osseous remains of the Iguanodon 

 and Hylaeosaurus, an interesting series of fossil fishes in chalk, a cranium of the Mastodon 

 Elephantoides, and a large suite of silicified species of wood from Saxony. 



Zoological Branch. 



Since the return in June 1838, the Starfish, Sea-eggs, Corals, and a selection from the 

 collection of Insects and Crustacea, have been moved for exhibition into the south gallery 

 of the north wing ; the Sea-eggs, Star-fish, Crinoidea and Insects have been arranoed, and 

 the gallery opened to the public. The rest of the objects in those rooms are in course of 

 arrangement. 



The Reptiles and prepared Fish, which were crowded together for want of space, have 

 been arranged in families, until the new cases are ready for their reception, in those left 

 vacant in the old house by the moving of the collection into the south galleiy of the north 

 wing. 



Considerable progress has been made in the fitting-up and placing of the shelves for the 

 birds in the large east gallery ; between two and three thousand birds liave been cleaned and 

 removed to new stands, preparatory to their being placed in the new cases. 



The whole of the smaller Mammalia, and a great number of the larger ones, have been 

 cleaned, put in order, and placed on new stands, preparatory to their beino- arranoed in 

 the cases left vacant by the removal of the birds. 



During the last 18 months, 12,895 specimens of various classes of animals have been 

 added to the collection. 



All the above specimens (except the insects) have been arranged in their places in the 

 general collection, and exhibited to the public view, as well as the limited space at present 

 devoted to the collections will allow. 



A catalogue of the additions made to the zoological collection in the year 1835, contain- 

 ing an account of upwards of 3,500 specimens, has been revised and printed. 



The catalogues of the various specimens which iiave been received by this department in 

 the years 1836, 1837, 1838 and 1839, are also in a forward state, and are expected to be 

 ready for the press in a short time. 



The whole of the 12,895 specimens enumerated in the former part of this Return (except 

 the insects) have been regularly entered in the manuscript catalogue of accessions. The 

 insects have been entered in the systematic catalogue as they have been placed in the 

 cabinets, and 2,480 species arranged and recorded during the last 18 months; viz. 



Insects __-.-_ 2,319 

 Crustacea - - - - - - 149 



Arachnoidea ----- 12 



Total - - - 2,480 



In the year ending December 1839, there have been added to the several branches of the 

 zoological collections of the British Museum 9,615 specimens of different animals ; viz. 

 Vertebrata - - - - - - 1,013 



Mollusca -----_ 4,004 



Radiata ------219 



Annulosa - - - - - - 4,379 



Total - - - 9,01.s 



Many of these are scarce and valuable ; among them may be specified — 



A series of interesting small British Quadrupeds, and a large number of youno- British 

 Birds, showing their appearances in different ages. *' 



