30 ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



The collection of Bird- skins, mounted and exhibited, is in a good state of preservation. 

 The unmounted collection is in a state of preservation, but shows some effects of pressure, 

 which may be removed when space is obtained for a less crowded condition of package. 

 The facilities of access and corapai'ison will be, then, also increased. 



From t!ie accessions to this class received in the past year the fine skin of the Australian 

 Casuary, from the North of Queensland, presented by his Excellency the Governor, the 

 Marquis of Normandy, k.c.b. , has been mounted, and is displayed in the Cabinet of the 

 Wingless or Struthious Birds. 



The proportion of the collection of RepUlia and Pisces displayed in the public Galleries, 

 is in a good state of preservation and arrangement. The stored sp-^cimens are also in a 

 state of preservation. The type of the new species of European snake {Coronelln brevis) 

 from the South of Spain, has been presented by its discoverer. Lord Lilford. 



The nomenclature and synonyms of the specimens of the above classes of Vertebrate 

 animals have been verified or corrected, and the specimens both displayed and in store 

 have been labelled accordingly. 



Of the Invertebrate classes, those of the Molluscous animals pi'eserved with the shell, 

 in spirits, or removed from the shell ; together with the examples of the shell- less orders 

 and famiUes preserved in spirits, have received due attention, and are in a state of 

 preservation, fit for the needful applications of anatomical research, or for comparison 

 with the fossil casts of the interior of shells of extinct species. 



The arranged and exhibited series of shells, and of the models of their molluscous 

 fabricators, is in a good state of preservation, and has been rendered more instructive and 

 attractive by the substitution of better or rarer specimens, or of fresher ones, in the place 

 of those the colours of which had been affected by exposure to light. The collection of 

 shells from the Gulf of Suez, collected and presented by Robert M' Andrew, Esq., has 

 added to the evidences of the specific distinction of the mollusca of the Mediterranean 

 and Red Seas. The fossil shells from the Suez and Port Said ends of the new Ship-canal 

 are equally distinct ; they indicate the extent of gain or rise of the respective beds of the 

 two seas ; and the intermediate tract of dry land, devoid of such fossils, indicates the long 

 lapse of time related to the specific distinction of the sea-shells so separated. 



The small proportion of the class Insecta, publicly displayed, and exemplifying 

 characters of the larger groups of the class, is in a good state of preservation, and has 

 been improved by interchange of new for old specimens, as in the series of shells. 



The very large proportion of the Annulose animals in the basement Entomological 

 Store-room is in a good state of preservation, and is so arranged, in drawers, as to be 

 conveniently accessible for study and comparison. 



The classes Crustacea and Aiachnida are exemplified in the Public Gallery, by represen- 

 tative species of the leading groups or divisions of each class. 



These select specimens, as well as the more numerous examples, dried and in spirits, 

 preserved in store, are in a good state of pres rvation. In the same condition are the 

 specimens of the classes Anru'lida and Entozoa. 



The larger proportion of the Echinodermata, systematically arranged and exhibited in 

 the public galleries, together with the stored specimens of the class, both dry and in 

 spirits, are in a good state of preservation. 



The calcareous corals and other Radiaria, exhibited and in store, are in a good state 

 of preservation ; as are also, the examples of the siliclous Sponc/iada, brought to light by 

 deep-sea dredging, and more especially noticed in the Departmental Report. 



The series ol Osteological S2)ecimens, those of the Horns and Antlers, and of the Nests 

 and Nidavnental structures, are well-preserved. The skeleton of the Black Two-horned 

 Rhinoceros of Malacca has been mounted, and is exhibited in the Mammalian Gallery. 



The systematically arranged and exhibited collections illustrative of the Natural 

 History of the British Isles is in a good state of preservation, and affords the requisite 

 facilities for study and comparison of specimens. 



The exhibited series of Fossils, as well as the more numerous petrifactions in store, are 

 in a good state of preservation. Their value to scientific visitors and students continues 

 to be improved whenever a further display of the organic remains in their matrix can be 

 safely carried out. 



The fossil evidences (bones and teeth) of the extinct marsupial quadrupeds of Australia, 

 the subjects of a series of papers (I. — VII.) in the "'* Philosophical Transactions," have been 

 arranged and labelled in a special cabinet. In this collection is included the fossil jaw and 

 teeth of the herbivorous marsupial, of the size of an ox (^Nototherium), allied to the 

 Wombat and Kangaroo, brought from the province of QaeenJand, by H.R.H. the Duke 

 of Edinburgh, .and presented by His Royal Highness to the Trustees. 



All the specimens of Minerals, displayed and in store, are in a good state of preservation. 



Richard Owen. 



