ACCOUNTS, ESTIMATES, &C. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM, 21 



Depaktment of Geology. 



During the past year, upwards of 5,000 Specimens of Fossils have been registered, 

 namely : — 



Plants 255 



Crinoids, Echinoderms, &c. ------- 357 



Insects, &c. ---------- 486 



Trilobites _ - - 1,533 



Other Crustaceans ._--.--- 348 



Cephalopoda - - - - - - - - - HI 



Other Mollusca 342 



Vertebrata, about 2,000 



Total - - - 5,432 



Of the above Specimens a considerable portion has been examined and arranged partly in 

 drawers, where they are readily available for student?, and partly in the glazed cases of the 

 public rooms, A large number of the Specimens obtained in former years has likewise 

 been under examination, and has been incorporated in the general Collection. Thus, the 

 whole of the Fossil Vegetable remains (not exhibited in the glazed cases) have been 

 arranged in Botanical order, so far as tliey can be determined, and the remainder have 

 been grouped together according to the Geological formations from whence they were 

 derived. 



The Barrande Collection of Trilobites has been arranged in the cabinets and wall- 

 cases of the New Room with the exception of a certain number of specimens, which, 

 together with other Crustaceans, have been selected to form a series illustrative of the 

 leading families and genera of the group to which they belong, and are exhibited to the 

 public in Room VI. of the Gallery. The Crinoids have been partly arranged (chiefly in the 

 New Room), and a selected series is exhibited to the public. It is in the two groups above 

 alluded to (the Crustacea and Crinoidea), that the most important additions have been 

 made during the year, and by a slight alteration of the disposition of the cases in Room V I., 

 space has been found for two new cases in which the most interesting species have been 

 exhibited. Space has also been gained for an additional case for the better exhibition of 

 the Tertiary Shells, and for a case of Mountain Limestone Fossils, selected from the 

 Gilbertson Collection, which has recently been transferred from the Zoological to the 

 Geological Department. 



With regard to the Mollusca generally, a large number of species have been incorporated 

 in the exhibited portion of the Collection, but with the exception of those contained in the 

 two new table cases alluded to, these for the most part could only be added by the removal 

 of other specimens which were thought to be less generally interesting. 



A considerable portion of the Collection, for want of space, is necessarily arranged in the 

 drawers under the tables. 



In the Fossils belonging to Vertebrate Animals, it has been found necessary, owing to 

 the numerous recent acquisitions of Fishes, to make an alteration in the shelves of the 

 wall-cases of Room II., by which additional space has been procured for their incorporation 

 in the series; and this part of the Collection nas been entirely re-arranged. 



An extra table-case has been added to Room IV. for the display of a very interesting 

 Collection of remains of the Flying Lizards {Pterodactylus), of which the greater portion of 

 the Specimens has been recently obtained. Three very large and striking specimens of the 

 Old Marine Saurians have been mounted in frames, and exhibited in the Gallery; they con- 

 sist of one Ichthyosaurus (/. longirostris), and two Plesiosauri (P, dolichodeirus, and 

 P. homolospondylus.^ 



An enormous Land Lizard allied to the Iguanodon, having been recently discovered in 

 the lias of Charmouth, by Mr, James Harrison, the specimen has been purchased for the 

 Museum, and is now exhibited in Room III,, where, from its perfect condition, and the 

 peculiarities of structure which it presents, it forms one of the most interesting and instruc- 

 tive objects in the Collection ; it furnishes the subject of a special Memoir by Professor 

 Owen, who distinguishes it by the name of Scelidosaurus Ilarrisoni. 



The most important acquisition during the year, is the Collection of Mr. John Gray, of 

 Hagley, the formation of which occupied its late owner many years. It has long been 

 known, not only as one of the most extensive series of Dudley Limestone Fossils, but likewise 

 as being composed of the choicest and most perfect specimens. 



103 specimens of Trilobites. 

 241 „ Crinoids. 



199 „ Corals. 



1,823 „ Mollusca. 



It consists of - 



- 



j» 



j» 



» 



»> 



» 



>» 



Total - - - - 2,366 specimens. 



A collection of Trilobites from the Lower Silurian rocks of Portmadoc, and a consider- 

 200. C 3 able 



