1'2 ACCOUNTS, &C. OF BRITISH MUSEUM. 



from the Prussian coast, deserves particular notice among the more interesting additions to the 

 Collection of Minerals. A magnificent gigantic group of Selenite Crystals, from the Herzog 

 Ernst mine, Rumhardsbrunn, near Coburg, has been presented by His Koyal Highness 

 Prince Albert. 



In the l^alaeontological Collections, especially those of the Osseous remains of Vertebrata, 

 a very considerable increase has taken place ; several collections of Mammahan remains, 

 obtained at different times during the past year from Dr. Kaup, form altogether a very 

 interesting series, consisting, among others, of remains of three species of Rhinoceros, of 

 the Mastodon longirostris, the Diuotherium, Mammoth, Equus primigenius, and the great 

 Cave Bear, &c. More or less characteristic parts of the following Mammalian genera are 

 likewise contained in Dr. Kaup's Collections; viz., Dorcatherium, Microtherium, Amphicyon, 

 Gulo, Manes, Titanomys, Spermophilus and Arvicola ; these specimens are chiefly from 

 Eppelsheim. Characteristic parts of a gigantic Elephant and of a Buffalo, together with 

 Vertebrge of the Zeuglodon, discovered in Texas, have also been secured for the Collection. 

 From the valley of the Thames, various specimens have been produced, among which may 

 be specified, remains of the Rhinoceros, Leptorhinus and of the Elephas meridionalis, as 

 well as the Bones and Teeth referable to the Horse, Wild Boar, Beaver, Bear, &c. Also, a 

 considerable number of the remains of the Indian Proboscidea figure in Dr. Falconer's 

 and Major Cautley's Fauna Antiqua Sivalensis, have been deposited in the Room destined for 

 the Pachydermata and Edentata, to which various valuable additions have been made in the 

 course of the year by Dr. Falconer himself, Charles Frazer, Esq., (who, besides many 

 interesting remains of Proboscidea, has presented a most perfect cranium of a gigantic new 

 species of Bos), Captain Fulljames, who presented the Skull, with part of lower Jaw adhering, 

 of a distinct species of Mastodon from Perim Island in the Gulf of Cambay, &c. 



The Collection of Fossil Fishes, the strictly systematic arrangement of which is now 

 completed, has also been enriched with numerous acquisitions, among which are various 

 specimens from the oldest formations, such as the Old Red Sandstone of Scotland, com- 

 prising several species of the genera Coccosteus, Osteolepis and Glyptolepis (several of 

 them obtained at Lethenbar and presented by Major Cautley, Dr. Falconer and Norman 

 M'Leod, Esq.) ; of the Ichthyolites from Monte Bolca may be more particularly noticed 

 the fine specimen, with counterpart, of Semiophorus vehfer, presented by Chamlaers Hall, 

 Esq. ; of those from Solenhofen, added within the year, the most interesting is a specimen 

 and counter impression of Aspidorhynchus acutirostris ; and of those belonging to Tertiary 

 formations, the remarkable heads of Siluroid Fishes from the Himalayans, presented by 

 Major Cautley. 



The remains of Fossil Reptiles have not been considerably added to for want of space ; 

 but room has been found for a very perfect and interesting specimen from the Lias of Wur- 

 temburg of a Crocodilean Reptile, related to the Teleosaurus Chapmanni, but which is now 

 formed into a distinct genus, called Mystriosaurus, by Dr. Kaup, from whom this specimen 

 was obtained ; it measures 11 ^ feet in length. 



Also to the collection of Invertebrata (in a fossil state), considerable additions have been 

 made, but they require much time and additional space to be properly determined and 

 arranged. Among these maybe particularized an assemblage of several thousand specimens 

 of Shells, &c., from the Tertiary formation of the Touraine, which was lately purchased at 

 Paris, in one lot, of a Marchand A^aturaliste ; but being all without names, they await the 

 labour of a competent person to become a valuable acquisition. Other important additions 

 are a series of Fossils, including many of the family of Rudistes, from Santander, on the 

 north coast of Spain ; many large and characteristic specimens of Ammonites, from Trou- 

 bridge ; a considerable suite of beautifully preserved Ammonites, from the Oxford Clay ; 

 another from the Gault of Dover, &c. 



The additions to the Collection of Vegetable Remains include many specimens from the 

 Coal formation of Wales ; interesting specimens of petrified Wood from Santander, Java, 

 North America, Sheppey, &c. 



Zoological Branch, 



The central Saloon and the north-east Rooms of the south front having been completed, 

 the Collection of Mammalia (with the exception of the Glires) has been re-arranged, so as to 

 place them in their proper position in the series of Animals. 



The arrangement and cataloguing of the Collection have been regularly proceeded with. 



The 14,266 specimens of the various classes of Animals which have been acquired during 

 the year, have all been arranged in their proper systematic places in the general Collection, 

 and have been regularly ticketed and entered in the Manuscript Catalogue of accessions. 



The following Catalogues have been published during the year ; viz. : 



1 . Catalogue of Osteological Specimens. 



2. Catalogue of Crustacea. 



3. Catalogue of Lepidopterous Insects — Part 2. 



4. List of Coleopterous Insects — Parti. Cetoniadae. 



5. Ditto - - ditto - Part 2. Hydrocanthari. 



The following Catalogues are in the press, and will shortly be published : 



1. Catalogue of Raptorial Birds — 2nd Edition. 



2. Catalogue of Lepidopterous Insects — Part 3. 



3. List of British Radiated Animals and Sponges. 



A desmptive 



