ACCOUNTS, Sec. OF BRITISH MUSEUM. 



A very extensive suite of Bones of the Dinornis and other genera of gigantic birds 

 (supposed to be extinct) recently discovered, and transmitted from ]\e\v Zealand by 

 W. Mantell/Esq. 



A Collection purchased of Mr. Paul Mohr, consisting of about 10,00(t specimens, 

 including about 2,500 species, a large proportion of which are Fossil Shells from the Jura 

 formation of Wiirtemberg : but it also contains numerous Fossils from the Palaeozoic rocks 

 of Bohemia, of part of Belgium, &c., besides specimens of Fishes and Crustacea from Solen- 

 hofen, &c. 



Besides the numerous specimens of Shells contained in Mr. Mohr's Collection, a series 

 of Brachyopoda, presented by T. Davidson, Esq., may be mentioned as an interesting acqui 

 sition. 



Among the more prominent single specimens of Fossils obtained by purchase in the 

 course of the past year, two, at least, are deserving of particular notice, viz. : — 



The original specimen (formerly in the possession of his Grace the Duke of Buck- 

 ingham) of Flesiosaurus dolichodeirus, from which the genus was established by Mr. Cony- 

 beare : the skeleton is nine feet six inches in length, and, though more than usually 

 complete, has been found to be susceptible of still more perfect extrication by the removal 

 of a portion of the lias in which it is embedded. 



The other grand specimen alluded to is a slab of lias from Boll, in Wiirtemberg, 

 upwards of five feet square, on the surface of which are exhibited, in strong relief, and 

 entirely converted into sulphuret of iron (common Pyrites), a number of individuals of 

 a species of Pentacrinus, collected into one group, bearing sixteen umbelliform heads ; it 

 was obtained through Mr. Mohr. 



The Collection of fossil Fishes, the arrangement of which in the wall cases of Room VI. is 

 now completed, has been enriched by the accession of many desiderata, especially from Monte 

 Bolca (from which locality the very scarce Callipteryx recticaudus has lately been obtained). 

 Five table cases have been set apart for the Placoids ; and the various dorsal fir.s, palates, 

 teeth, &c. belonging to fishes of this natural order are now under arrangement. 



The Collection of Fossil Plants has been rendered more complete by the acquisition 

 of a fine series of specimens from the Yorkshire Coal Field, belonging chiefly to the family 

 of Equisetaceae. 



The Oryctognostic Collection has during the past year received many valuable additions, 

 both as regard newly discovered minerals, and such of which more perfect specimens were 

 desirable than those which the Museum already possessed. 



This Collection being arranged after Berzelius' system, founded chiefly upon the doctrine 

 of definite proportions, the formulae of their chemical composition have lately been added 

 to most of the mineral species exhibited in the table cases. 



Among the more interesting accessions to the Mineralogical and Geological Collections 

 during the past year may also be particularized, — 



A series of Rock specimens and Minerals, among which are instructive specimens of 

 Carbonate and Fluoride of Lime, crystallised and botryoidal Quartz, and Calcedony, from 

 Aden, presented by the Court of Directors of the East India Company. 



A suite of Geological and Mineralogical specimens from the interior of Australia, referred 

 to in his Journal, &c., and presented, by Sir Thomas Mitchell. 



A suite of miscellaneous Mineral Substances, among which there are many cut and 

 polished specimens of agathized Wood, the bequest of Mrs. Ann Tattenall. 



As a late acquisition of scientific interest may also be mentioned the mass of Meteoric 

 Iron discovered in 1847 at Rutherford, in North Carolina ; the whole of which, together 

 with some other Meteorites, has been purchased by the Trustees. 



Zoological Branch. 



No alteration has been made in the disposition of the Collection during the year just 

 passed. The Osteological Room in the basement has been fitted up, and is now being 

 painted and glazed ; the specimens will be arranged in it in the course of a few weeks. 



The arrangement, naming and cataloguing of the Collection have been regularly pro- 

 ceeded with. 



The 17,954 specimens of the various classes of Animals which have been acquired during 

 the year 1848, have all been arranged in their systematic places in the several Col- 

 lections, and have all been regularly ticketed and entered in the Manuscript Catalogue of 

 accessions. 



The following Catalogues have been prepared, printed and published during the year, 

 viz. ; — 



1. List of the Accipitrine Birds — 2d Edition. 



2. List of Fissirostral Birds. 



3. List of Lepidopterous Insects — Part 3. 



4. List of Dipterous Insects — Part 1. 



5. List of Hymenopterous Insects— Part 2. 



6. Nomenclature of Coleopterous Insects — Part 3. Buprestidae. 



7. List of British Radiated Animals, 



8. List of British Sponges. 



A Descriptive Catalogue of the Mammalia, of the Cephalopodous, Brachiopodoiis and 



Pteropodous Mollusca, a list of the British Molluscous and Vertebrated Animals and 



140. B Crustacea, 



