3^ ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



animals ; and also specimens of perforated limestone, of the Carboniferous period, 

 supposed to have been bored by land Helices. 



A considerable number of valuable Fish and Reptilian remains have been mounted in 

 glazed frames for their better preservation. Nearly two thousand Mollusca, forming part 

 of the Etheridge Collection, have been identified and registered. 



The greater portion of the remains appertaining to the Vertebrate Classes received 

 during the year have been incorporated in the exhibited collections. 



Specimens Kegistered during the year : — 



Vertehrata : 



Mammalia ------- 314 



Aves --------40 



Reptilia ------- 340 



Pisces ---_-__ 870 



1,564 



Invertehrata : 



Mollusca ------- 3,828 



Polyzoa - - - - -^ - - 158 



Crustacea -------20 



Annelida -------24 



Echinodermata ------ 125 



Zoophyta 609 



Protozoa - - - - - - -105 



Fossil Plants - - - - - -1,187 



6,056 



Total - - - . 7,620 



The number of Students who have visited the Department during the past year is 616. 



Geo, R. Waterhouse. 



Depaetment or Mineralogy. 



The specimens added to the Mineral Collection during the year 1870 have been 676 

 in number. They have been registered, labelled, and incorporated with the General Col- 

 lection. The number of species new to the Collection added during the year has been 

 twenty-three. 



The large number of duplicate and other specimens not incorporated with the General 

 Collection, and which are preserved in drawers in the North Gallery, and the basement, have 

 occupied much time with their examination and study ; and of them above 9,000 have 

 been sorted and grouped. Of these, such as were selected for incorporation in the 

 General Collection have been arranged in the drawers reserved for the unexhibited 

 portion of that Collection ; while the remainder have been divided into duplicates of a 

 better character, which have been arranged with the duplicate specimens, and such, as 

 being of an inferior character and indifferent value, had to be grouped separately from 

 the formei'. 



The work on the unexhibited portion of the General Collection in the reserve drawers 

 Las consisted in ascertaining, wherever practicable, the localities of specimens unaccom- 

 panied by any record, and identifying such as are without comiilete record; and the 

 general labelling of this portion of the collection has made good progress. 



The 3rd, 41st, and 44th cases having been fitted with glazed fronts and interior shelf 

 arrangements. The larger and more splendid specimens of the native metals, including 

 models of famous gold nuggets, of the Felspars and Beryl, and of some other silicates, 

 have been exhibited in them, severally. 



Important changes have been effected in the arrangement of the minerals belonging to 

 the classes of the Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates, and also of the Sulphates ; and 

 the various minerals hitherto grouped under the common title of Jade, have been discri- 

 minated and determined and arranged in their proper places in the Collection. 



The work done in the Laboratory has Included an investigation of the minerals composing 

 the Rutlam Meteorite which has been completed, while that of the composition of the 

 Melbourne SIderlte Is still in progress. Among other results obtained are the analysis 

 of a series of Serpentines from lona and of various Cornish minerals, including several 

 that have been united under the name of Isopyre. Some interesting results have also 

 been obtained for other departments in the analysis of fossil bones, and of certain remains 

 in metal, of the ancient arts of India and of Peru. 



Among 



