l6 ACCOUNTS, ESTIMATES, &C. OF BRITISH MUSEUM. 



Mineralogical and Geological Branch. 



The principal acquisitions to the Department during the year are — 



The well-known Palseontological Collection of the Marchioness of Hastings : it consists 

 of between 2,000 and 3,000 specimens of remains of Vertebrate Animals of the Older 

 Tertiary periods; viz.: — About 350 specimens from the Gypsum beds of Montraartre, near 

 Paris; upwards of 1,500 specimens, chiefly remains of Mammaha and Reptilia, from the 

 Eocene strata of Hordwell, on the coast of Hampshire, and from the Isle of Wight ; about 

 800 specimens from Mayence ; and several casts of rare specimens in the Paris Museum, 



The second portion of M. Barrande's Silurian Collection, from Bohemia, consisting of 

 913 specimens of Gasteropoda and Cephalopoda. 



An extensive series of Fossils from the Upper Green Sand of Warminster. 



A series of Ammonites from Yeovil, Somersetshire. 



Numerous Fossils from the Oolitic formations of the Ardennes. 



A series of Fossils from the Bradford Clay, including several very perfect specimens of 

 the Apiocriniie. 



A collection of Carboniferous Fossils from Derbyshire. 



An extensive series of Fossil Shells, &c., from various parts of France; and portions of 

 the Jaws, with the entire series of Teeth, of the Mastodon Simorrense. 



To the Mineralogical Collection have been added several new species, and many very 

 choice specimens ; amongst which the following may be particularized : 



A series of rare Minerals from the west coast of Greenland, comprising specimens of 

 Fergusonite, Allanite, and some fine Crystals of Columbite, together with several varieties 

 of Cryolite ; presented by W. J. Tayler, Esq. 



Various Minerals from New Zealand, presented by Sir George Grey, Bart., including 

 specimens of Nephrite and Siliceous Sinter. 



Cut and polished specimens of Onyx, showing varieties of colour produced by artificial 

 means ; presented by H. Weigall, Esq. 



A portion of a mass of Meteoric Iron, found on the desert of Tarapaca, in Chile. This 

 specimen forms the subject of a Memoir by R. P. Greg, Esq., in the Philosophical 

 Magazine for July 1855, and is remarkable for containing native lead : the lead was found 

 in small cavities within the Meteorite, sometimes in masses equal to a pea in size. 



Part of a mass of Meteoiic Iron, discovered in 1851 at Seneca Falls, New York, 



Crystals of Ruby in the matrix, from Orange County, New York ; and some fine Crystals 

 of the Sulphate, Carbonate, and Phosphate of Lead, from Phcenixville, Philadelphia. 



A fine specimen of the Red Oxide of Copper, crystallized in cubes, from the Burra-Burra 

 Mines, Australia. 



Some very large crystals of Gothite, Vitreous Copper, and Childrenite ; and various other 

 Minerals from Cornwall. 



A series of silver Ores, — Bromides, Chloi-ides, Sulphurets, &c., from Chile. 



The following Mineral substances added during the year are new to the Collection ; viz., 

 Eudnopliite, Cryptolite, Tyrrhite, Polycrase, and Aspidelite, from Norway; Stratopeite, 

 Paisbergite, 8cc., from Sweden; Carolathine from Silesia; Eusynchite from Baden; Chal- 

 codite, Houghite, Enargite, and others, from America. 



The arrangement of the Fossil Repiilian remains has been completed, the additional speci- 

 mens forming part of Lady Hastings' Collection having been incorporated in the general series. 

 All the specimens of Minerals received during the year have been entered in the Inventory, 

 and displayed in the Table Cases, some of which have been re-arranged. The Nautilidse 

 and large Ammonites have been arranged in the Wall Cases of the New Room. Two new 

 Tables of Fossils (one of Oolitic Shells, and one of Cretaceous Shells) have been added to 

 the Collection, and large additions have been made to the cases of Tertiary Shells, Echi- 

 nodermata, Spongiadas, and Cephalopoda. Of Fossil remains of Invertebrate Animals, about 

 3,400 specimens have been catalogued ; and of Vertebrate, upwards of 2,000. 



George Robert Waterhouse. 



Botanical Branch. 



The Keeper has added to the arranged Herbarium a continuation of Mr. Thwaites' Col- 

 lection of Ceylon Plants, and of Mr. Spruce's Collection from Northern Brazil. He has 

 iilso been occupied in selecting for the Museum a complete set of specimens from Dr. Hors- 

 field's Javanese Herbarium ; and in examining extensive Collections received under the 

 instructions of the Board of Admiralty, from the Museum of the Royal Naval Hospital at 

 Haslar, consisting chiefly of Sir John Richardson's Collections in North America, of Collec- 

 tions made on the south-west coast of New Holland, in New Zealand, in the islands of the 

 South Pacific, and in North and South America, by various Collectors ; and in preparing 

 and arranging specimens for the Botanical Exhibition. 



Since 



