22 ACCOUNTS, ESTIMATES, SCC. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



Department of Zoology. 



The various collections which are exhibited to the public, and those animals which are 

 kept unstuffed for study, have been cleaned, and many families and large groups of animals 

 have been re-arranged, to insert the specimens recently acquired, to replace those which 

 have become deteriorated by exposure, and to keep the collection on a level with the prooress 

 of Zoological classification, and thus afford to students the means of studying the science 

 in the most efficient manner. The labels that had become antiquated or destroyed by 

 exposure have been restored or verified. 



In the Entomological Collection, which is very much studied, many portions have been 

 revised and re-arranged, to make it conformable with various works that have been written 

 on tlie different families, and lo remedy the crowded state of the drawers, arising from the 

 addition of new specimens. 



During the year 1863, 98,754 specimens of animals of different classes have Leen added 

 to the several parts of the Zoological collection ; namely, — 



Vertebrate Animals - - - - - -3,973 



Molluscous and Radiated Animals - - - _ 1,257 

 Annulose Animals ------- 93,524 



Total - - - 98,754 



A large proportion of these specimens has been presented ; others have been selected from 

 collections which have been offered, as those most interesting and desirable for the Museum, 

 as illustrating the Zoology of a particular reiiion of the earth's surface lately explored, 

 or as tending to illustrate some improved scientific classification ihat had been lately 

 published, or as interesting in some other scientific or economic relation, and many have 

 been chosen because they are the identical types of specimens desciibed by some zoulogist 

 of leputation. 



Each of these 98,754 specimens added lo the collection has been regularly marked 

 with the date and number, and described in the manuscript Register of Accessions, with a 

 notice of the locality where it was collected, and the manner in which it was acquired. 

 These particulars give the history of each of the specimens for future use, and add greatly 

 to tl'.eir value. 



A number of the specimens lately acquired, and a large portion of those that have been 

 in tht' Museum for years, have been described by various zoologists and by the officers of 

 the Museum, which rendeis them of more importance, as they become the typical specimens 

 wliich future naturalists must consult when they want to see the authentic specimen from 

 which the species has been described. 



The following Catalogues have been pubhshed during the year 1863 : — 



1. Catalogue of Mr. Hodgson's Collection. Second edition. 



2. Catalogue of British Birds. By G. R. Gray, f.l. s. 



3. Catalogue of Lepidoptera Heterocera. Paits 26, 27, 28. By Francis Walker, f.l.s 



Several most important additions have been made to the collection. 



Among the Mammalia may be specially mentioned the skin of the rare Monk, or Pied 

 Seal, from the shores of the Mediteiranean {Monac/ius albiventer-). This animal was 

 exhibited in London as the " Talking Fish." The examination of the specimen has proved 

 that the Seal fmm Madeira, which was described as Heliophocu Atlantica, is only a young 

 specimen of the Monk Seal, which is also found on the coast of Algiers. 



The Right Hon. the Earl Russell presented collections to the IVluseum, including, amongst 

 other interesting additions, the rare genera Petrodomus and Rhynchocyon, which were col- 

 lected by Dr. Livingstone in Zambesi. These animals and the Seal are specially interesting, 

 as supplying three out of only six or seven genera of Mammalia, hitherto wanting to the 

 Museum Collection. 



The Museum has also received — 



A collection of Mammalia from Fort Halket ; presented by Bernard R. Ross, Esq. 



The Ribs of Rhytina borealis, from Behring's Straits, obtained from the Academy of 

 Sciences at St- Petersburg. 



Seven stuffed Llamas from Australia, that were exhibited at the Exhibition of 1862; 

 presented by Edward Hamilton, Esq. 



A collection of Mammaha from Formosa; collected by R. Swinhoe, Esq., H. M, Consul 

 at Formosa. 



A collection of Animals, containing several new species ; collected by J. K. Lord, Esq., 

 and piesented by the North American Boundary Commission. 



A series of Skins and Heads of larger Mammalia from Central Africa ; collected by 

 Capt. Speke. 



Amongst the Birds may be mentioned — 



A series of Birds and Eggs collected during the explorations of the Mackenzie River 

 District ; presented by Bernard R. Ross, Esq. 



A series 



