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



The Geological Survey of India, through its director, T, Oldham, Esq., forwarded in 

 exchange for some of the duplicate minerals in the Museum, a fine piece of the Pegu 

 Meteorite of December 27, 1857. Three specimens, representing the falls of 



Trezzano ------- Nov. 12 1856 



Ceresito - July 17 1840 



and Alessandria- ----- Feb. 2 1860, 



have been obtained by exchange, the first from Pavia, the two last from Turin. 



The number of distinct meteoric falls now represented in the Collection of the British 

 Museum amounts to 142. 



Great progress has been made during the past year in the arrangement of the Collection. 

 Nearly every mineral species is now in the case which it will have to occupy when the new 

 classification shall be complete. The work remaining to be done consists for the most 

 part in the construction of a complete and detailed catalogue, founded on a minute and 

 careful investigation of the crystallographic and chemical features of individual specimens. 



Nevil Story Maskelyne, 



Botanical Department. 



The business done in the department during the year ending 31st December 1861, has 

 chiefly consisted — 



In the naming, arranging, and laying into the General Herbarium of the extensive col- 

 lections of Peruvian Plants, forming part of the Herbarium of Ruiz and Pavoni of various 

 collections from New Zealand, the Antarctic and Magellanic Regions; of a portion of 

 Dr. Berthold Seemann's collection from the Feejee Archipelago ; of a further portion of the 

 extensive collection of North American Plants, formed by the late Professor Nuttall ; of 

 iFunck's and Spruce's Cryptogamic Plants; of Drummond's American Mosses ; and of 

 several smaller collections of Mosses and Hepatica ; 



In the re-arrangement of the Famihes of Piperacece and XanthoxylecB, and of the 

 Ferns belongins: to the Linnean genus Asplenium ; 



In the examination of the late Mr. Gardner's very extensive collection of Brazilian Plants, 

 with a view to its incorporation in the General Herbarium ; and of several collections re- 

 cently received from the Himalayan Mountains, from Guatemala, and from various other 

 localities ; 



In the re-arrangement of a part of the Herbarium Cases, and in fitting the whole of them 

 with velvet edging to exclude the dust; 



In the re-arrangement of a portion of the General Collection of Fruits and Seeds; 



In the further arrangement of the British Collection ; in the incorporation with it of 

 numerous additional specimens, especially of Cryptogamic Plants, and in the arrangement 

 of Sowerby's Drawings, illustrating them ; 



And lastly, in the further examination of the volumes of the Sloanean Herbarium, 

 especially with reference to the British Plants contained in them. 



In all that relates to the British and Sloanean Collections, it is again Mr. Bennett's 

 pleasing duty warmly to acknowledge the valuable assistance which he has derived from the 

 voluntary labours of the Rev. W. W. Newbould, whose knowledge and devotion to the sub- 

 ject can hardly be surpassed. 



The following are the principal additions made to the Department during the same period, 

 by purchase or donation : — 



26 species and varieties of Rubi, forming a set of Leighton's " Shropshire Rubi." 

 51 species and varieties of British Rubi, collected by the Rev. A. Bloxam. 

 360 species of British Mosses, collected by Dr. Sadler. 

 601 species and varieties of British Lichens, collected by Mr. W. Mudd. 

 149 species of British Sea-weeds, mostly in numerous specimens, forming a valuable col- 

 lection, made at Swanage, and presented by Mrs. Gray. 



337 species of British Sea-weeds, forming a very fine and valuable collection, presented 

 by Miss Cutler. 



58 species of British Fungi, collected by Gerard. 

 258 species of British Fungi, collected by the Rev. A. Bloxam. 

 100 species, forming two fascicuh, of Ayres's " British Fungi." 

 50 species of European Rubi, Wirtgen's " Herbarium." 



300 species of Italian Plants, forming fascic. 7-12 of the " Erbario Crittogamico 

 Italiano." 



757 species of Plants, especially Russian, from Prescot's Herbarium. 

 2,395 species of East Indian Plants, in continuation, presented by J. D. Hooker, Esq., 

 M.D., and W. Thomson, Esq., m.d. 



134 species of Plants, collected in the Western Himalaya by Captain Patrick Gerard, and 

 presented by Mrs. Godfrey. 



105 species of Plants of Ceylon, in continuation, collected by Mr. Thwaites. 



35 species 



