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



All these examples have been regularly marked with their date, and number, and recorded 

 in the manuscript Register of Accessions, with a notice of the locality from which they 

 were collected, and of the manner in which they were acquired, showing how many of the 

 specimens were presented, and how many were obtained by purchase. By whichever means 

 obtained, they have been selected from various collections as the most useful specimens 

 for completing the series already in the Museum, or as illustrating the Zoology of 

 particular divisions of the earth's surface ; this is especially the case with those that have 

 been procured by recent collectors. Many of them are the identical specimens from which 

 the descriptions of the new species were taken, and are highly interesting on that account, as 

 exhibiting the types of the animals described by Zoologists, and as serving to exemplify 

 their position in the scientific classification. Other specimens serve to show the changes 

 that take place in the gradual development of the growth of the species, while some 

 illustrate the slight differences which exist between allied species that belong to closely 

 connected localities, thus exhibiting to the students the variations that occur under these 

 circumstances, which is a question of much interest, and one which is much discussed at the 

 present period. 



Many of the newly acquired specimens have been prepared and placed in the public 

 galleries, with those previously exhibited, to afford the student the means of studying the 

 science in the most efficient manner. 



Various portions of the Zoological Collection have received a large share of attention 

 during tlie past year, with a view to the specimens being named in conformity with the recent 

 advances in the knowledge of species ; thus, several families of the Mammalian Collection 

 have been revised, as Simiadse, Lemuridee, Ursidse, Viverridae, and Mustelidae, and at the same 

 time, the recently received specimens have been incorporated into the Catalogue. Some por- 

 tion of the Ornithological Collection, especially the families of Muscicapidae, Fringillidae, 

 Ampelidfe, and others, have been examined, named, and catalogued. The specimens of Fishes, 

 composing the families of Salmonidte, Mormyridae, Esocidse, and Scombresocidse, have been 

 determined, named, and catalogued. The Conchological Collection has been increased by 

 the addition of a large series of the typical specimens of shells from Madeira, and also of a 

 very large collection of shells from Panama and the West Coast of America. These have 

 been placed with the general collection, having their names and localities severally marked 

 on the tablets of each species. Of the Entomological Collection, which receives a very large 

 share of the attention of Students, portions have been revised and re-arranged, especially 

 the extensive Coleopterous family of CurculionidcE ; and great progress has been made 

 in the arrangement of the specimens of Exotic Lepidopterous Insects, viz., in the families of 

 Vanessidce, NymphalidcB, and others, with the view of bringing these portions into conformity 

 with what has been written thereon of late, and with the object of remedying the crowded 

 state of the drawers, occasioned by the insertion of recently acquired specimens, and at the 

 same time of assisting the students in obtaining correct information regarding them. The 

 specimens, composing the general collection of Annelides, havebeen verified, catalogued, and 

 re-arranged. 



The following Catalogues have been published during the past year: — 



Catalogue of Lepidoptera Heterocera, Parts 31, 32, 33, 34, by Francis Walker, Esq., f.l.s. 



Catalogue of British Non-parasitical Worms, by Dr. George Johnston. 



The Collection has received the following most important additions : — 



The skin and skeleton of the JElephas Sumatranus, from Padang, Sumatra. 



A small collection of Mammalian Skins, from West Africa; presented by Captain 

 Burton. 



A collection of Mammalian Skins, from the interior of Africa; collected by Dr. Baikie, 

 and presented by Earl Russell. 



A series of Horns of the Cerous Schomhurgkii, Panolia Eldii, &c.'; collected by the late 

 Sir R. Schomburgk. 



The skin of Tragelaphus Spekeii, from West Africa; presented by M. Du Chaillu. 



Two pairs of the rare horns of Budorcas taxicolor. 



A small collection of Mammalia, from India; presented by the Hon. J. Dormer. 



The skeleton of the Rhinoceros Sumatranus, from Sumatra. 



The skeleton of a large Whale, Fhysalus latirostris, from the Coast of Holland. 



A fine skeleton of the Sperm Whale, Catodon macrocephalus, taken near Thurso, Caith- 

 ness-shiie, and presented by Captain Macdonald, r.e. 



A large collection of Birds, from Malacca ; presented by W. Harvey, Esq. 



A large collection of Birds, formed in Central America, and presented by Osbert 

 Salvin, Esq. 



A specimen of an Eagle, Heteropus Malayaiius, from India; presented by H. S. H. 

 Prince Frederic of Schleswig-Holstein. 



A collection of Birds from the Molucca, Aru, and Bouru Islands, many of them types 

 of new species. 



A aeries of Birds from Japan and Asia Minor. 



The typical specimens of Saxicola spectabilis ; presented by Dr. P. L. Sclater. 



A specimen of the Black Swan, Cygnus atratus, shot on the 22d November 1864 at 

 Lough Beg, near Ringashiddy, Co. Cork; |)resented by R. H. B. Campbell, Esq. 



A large series of Fishes, from Zanzibar; presented by Lieutenant-Colonel R. Lyon 

 Play fair. 



A large 



I 



