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



parts of the skeleion of a new genus {Palorchestes) of huge Kangaroo. These remains 

 were discovered in the bed of the same creek or stream, Gowrie, near Drayton, Darhng 

 Downs, in which the cranium of Diprotodon Australis was obtained, purchased by the 

 Trustees in 1858. 



Other notable additions are referred to in the special reports from the several depart- 

 ments of Natural History ; of the total number of additions in 1866, 92,818 have been to 

 that of Zoology, 4,061 to that of Ge^loiiy, and 672 to that of Mineralogy. 



In conclusion, it has to be remarked that (he present space allotted to the Natural 

 History Collections operates in restricting the labours of the staff, in regard to a large 

 portion of the specimens, to the business of conservation ; whereas the purpose of the 

 collections is to be instructively exhibited, or arranged under conditions of light, access, 

 descriptive lists and labels, facilitating scientific scrutiny and comparison. 



Not only the birds, shells, and minerals should be sliown as now, in serial sequence, but 

 every other class of Natural History. Nor ought the bulk of the specimens, in certain of 

 these, to be a bar to such display; for it is only in a National Museum tliat such means of 

 advancing science can be afforded or expected. 



Richard Owen. 



Department of Zoology. 



The collection of the different classes of Zoology has been increased during the year 

 1866 to the extent of 92,018 specimens, which may be divided thus: — 



Vertebrated Animals 2,363 



Annulose Animals or Insects ----- 4,679 



Mollusca and Radiata ------ 1,984 



Mr. Cuming's Collection of Shells - - - - 82,992 



Total - - - 92,018 



All till se examples (except Mr. Cuming's shells, which are !;eing registered) have been 

 regularly marked with their date and number, and recorded in the manuscript Register of 

 Accessions, with a notice of the locality from wiiich each specimen was collected, and of 

 the manner in which it was acquired, also showing how many of the specimens were pre- 

 sented by various donors, and how many were obtained by purchase. 



They have been selected from various collections as the most useful specimens for 

 completing the series already in the Museum, or as illustrating the distribution of the 

 different species of animals on the particular division of the earth's surface- 



Manv of them are the identical specimens from which the new species have been described, 

 and are on that account, hit^hly interesting, as exhibiting the types of the animals described 

 by Zoologists Other specimens have been selected to show the changes which take place 

 in the development and growth of the species, or to illustrate the differences which exist 

 between allied species that belong to closc4y connected localities. 



The series of prepared skins of vertebrated animals that are exhibited in the cases in the 

 public rooms, tor the instruction and amusement of the public, have been cleaned and 

 re -arranged. 



The collection of skins of animals, and of entire animals preserved in spirits, the col- 

 lection of insects, Crustacea, Radiated animals, and of the bones of Vertebrated animals, 

 that are kept in cabinets and in boxes for the use of the more scientific student, have been 

 re-examined and cleaned; they have likewise been re-arranged, when the addition of new 

 specimens into the cases rendered it necessary. 



These collections are so kept that any specimen thai may be required is easily 

 accessible. 



The arrangement and nomenclature of various parts of the Zoological collection have 

 received a large share of attention, so as to keep the different classes of animals arranged 

 and named, according to the recent advances of the knowledge of the species, and the more 

 newly acquired specimens are arranged in their places in the system. 



The mode of writing the name on a white disc, painted on the bottles, introduced some 

 years ago, has been found a complete remedy for the evil that arose from the paper labels 

 becoming obliterated and detached, whereby the name and history of the specimen was 

 rendered doubtful. 



The following catalogues nave been printed during the year 1866;- — 



" Catalogue of Whales and Seals," by Dr. J. E. Gray, f.e.s. 



" List of Gallinaceous Birds," by G. R. Gray, f.r.s. 



" Catalogue of Fish, vol. 6 {Salmonidce),^^ by Dr. Giinther, f.z.s. 



" Catalogue of Lepidoptera Heterocera," Part 35, and " Index," by Francis Walker, 

 Esq., F.L.S. 



The collections of Monkeys, Apes, Lemurs, Bats, and of the Edei)tate mammals, and tiie 

 skeletons of the Cetacea, have been carefully examined, the nomenclature revised and 

 re-catalogued. 



The Collection of Mammalia has been enriched by the addition of some most interesting 

 specimens. The folk wing may be specially mentioned : 



A specimen 



