ACCOUNTS, ESTIMATES, &C. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. I9 



supposed distinct species do but exemplify different phases of age of one and the same 

 species. The Tesson series of Ammonites further illustrates the degree and kind of variation 

 to which a well-defined species has been liable, irrespective of age, and especially those 

 diflPererces which appear to relate to sex. Many of these Ammonites exhibit the perfect 

 form of the aperture of the shell at various stages of growth, and the permanent indications 

 left by these periodical mouths on the whorls of the shell. 



The remainder of the Tesson Collection is siuiilarly rich and instructive, especially in the 

 Univalves, Brachlopoda, and Echinida. 



In regard to the Mineralogy, the brief period during which it has been under the special 

 charge of the lately appointed Keeper, Professor Maskelyne, has been marked by labours 

 which have added to the scientific value of the Collection. 



The total number of specimens added to the Natural History Departments during the 

 past year is 58,027, the requisite details of which are given in the Annual Reports of the 

 respective Keepers. 



Richard Owen, 

 Superintendent of the Natural History Departments. 



Department of Zoology, 



The Collections of Vertebrated Animals, and of the hard parts of Invertebrated Animals, 

 which are exhibited in the Rooms open to the Public have been cleaned, and many parts 

 of them re-arranged, to admit the recent accessions, and to keep up with the modern 

 improvements in Zoology. 



The very extensive Collection of Skins in store, of Skeletons, and of Specimens of Verte- 

 brated, Molluscous, Annulose and Radiated Animals in spirits, which are kept in the rooms 

 in the ba-ement, closed from public view for want of room, have been cleaned, verified, and 

 many of them re-arranged, while the labels, which have been destroyed by dust and damp, 

 have been replaced. 



The General Collections of Insects and Crustacea, which are also kept in a S()ecial room, 

 have had larL'e accessions made to them, which have been arranged in their appropriate 

 systematic places, and several parts of this Collection, as the Nocturnal Lepidoptera, the 

 Aculeate Hymenoptera, and several families of Coleoptera,&c. have been entirely re-arranged 

 and described. 



During the year 1857 there have been added to the several parts of the Zoological 

 Collection 48,044 specimens of different classes of animals, viz.: 



Vertebrata ------__ 1,874 



Molliisca and Radiata - _ _ . ^ _ 23,465 



Annulosa --------- 22,705 



Total - _ _ - 48,044 



Of these, a considerable portion of the specimens are types of the species described 

 in various scientific works and periodicals, independently of a veiy large number of speci- 

 mens which been described during the year in the j-ublications of the Museum itself, and 

 which are thus rendered of typical importance. 



These 48,044 specimens, which have been acquired during the year, have been all regularly 

 marked and described in the Manuscript Registers of Accessions, with an account from whom, 

 whence, and how they were derived, which adds greatly to their value, and they have 

 been all arranged in their systematic places in the Exhibited or Store Colleciions, and 

 properly labelled. 



The following Catalogues have been pubhshed during the year: — 



1. Catalogue of Apodal Fish, by Dr. Kaup. 



2. Guide to the Collections of Mollusca, by Dr. J. E. Gray, f.e.s., v.p.z.s., f. l.s., &c- 



3. 4. Catalogue of Lepidopterous Insects (Noctuidae), by F.Walker, f.l.s. 



5. Catalogue of Hymenopterous Insects — Part 5, by F. Smith, t.p.e.s. 



6. Catalogue of Coleopterous Insects of Madeira, by T. V. Wollaston, v. p.e. s., 



F.L.S. 



7. Catalogue of Mazatlan Mollusca, by P. P. Carpenter. 



8. Catalogue of Auriculidae and Truncatellidsc, and Proserpinidae, by Dr. Pfeiffer. 



The following Catalogues, as well as the succeeding parts of those already commenced, 

 are in preparation : — 



1. Catalogue of Colubridae. 



2. Catalogue of Pleuronectidae, Gadidae, &c., by Dr. Kaup. 



3. Catalogue of Psittacidse, by G. E. Gray, F.l.s. 



4. Catalogue of Formicidae, by F. Smith, v.p.e.s. 



In addition to the very numerous specimens of Fish, Reptiles, Mollusca, Insects, Crus- 

 219. C 2 tacea. 



