ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 31 



Department of Zoology. 



I. Ariungement. 



The collection of unmounted Bird Skins has been arranged in conformity with the 

 " Hand-list " published by the Trustees in the previous year ; the re-arrangement of the 

 exhibited series has been commenced, many of the deteriorated specimens beino- replaced 

 by better-mounted and more instructive examples. 



The entire collection of Tortoises, Crocodiles, and Amphisbaenians has been re-examined 

 and re-arranged according to the " Catalogue " recently published by the Trustees. 



The specimens of Myriapods and Arachnids have been arranged in systematic order. 



The determination and arrangement of the Insects of the order Hymenoptera, and of 

 the families Carabidec and Dytiscida, Nymphalida, and Pericopidce has been completed ; 

 and considerable progress has been made with the naming of the Dipterous and Hemip- 

 terous insects. 



The revision of the Banksian Collection of Crustaceans and Insects has been completed, 

 and nearly the whole incorporated in the general Collection. 



II. Cunservation. 



The series of unmounted skins of Mammalia and the entire Osteological Collection 

 have been examined and cleaned. The labels of tlie bottles containing the specimens of 

 fishes in spirits described in the seventh volume of the " Catalogue " have been re- 

 written and varnished over to prevent their being injured by exposure. The spirits in 

 the bottles- containing the wet preparations of Mollusks and Kadiata have l)een renewed. 



III. Acquisitions. 



During the past year 7,524 specimens have been added to the several parts of the 

 collection, namely : — 



Vertebrata 2,964 



MoUusca 1,505 



Annulosa - - _ . _ _ 1,674 



Radiata (and Vermes) -------= 1,381 



Total - - - 7,524 



All these specimens have been marked with the date of their acquisition, and a 

 separate number corresponding to an entry in the manuscrijDt-registers of accessions, in 

 which, for future reference, the name of the collector, (he country where the specimens 

 have been collected, the mode of their acquisition and any other interesting information 

 regarding them are entered. 



With the exception of a very small number, these specimens have been incorporated with 

 the general collection ; and many of them have been described and figured by the officers 

 of the Museum or other Zoologists in the catalogues published by order of the Trustees 

 and mentioned hereafter, or in the best known scientific periodicals. 



Mammalia. — Of the additions made to this part of the collection the following may 

 be specially mentioned : — 



Sixteen examples (in spirits) from the Philippine Islands; collected by Dr. A. B. 

 Meyer. These specimens are of particular interest, as the exact localities in which they 

 have been obtained are known. 



Eleven specimens from Celebes (in spirits) collected by the same traveller, amongst 

 them some fine examples of Cuscus. 



Eleven species from Port Stephens, Australia (in spirits) ; presented by Dr. Gr. 

 Bennett. 



The skin and skeleton of Macacus leoninus, from Arakan ; purchased of the Zoological 

 Society. 



Several beautiful examples of the rarer Lemurine Monkeys from Madagascar {Indris 

 and Propithecus) ; purchased. 



A small collection of Bats, chiefly from Southern Europe, including fine examples of 

 the very rare Vespertilio myslacinus from Northamptonshire ; presented by Lord Lilford. 



Two examples of the Spanish Lynx ; presented by J. P. Gassiot, Jun., Esq. 



A skull oi Arclocephalus cimreus, from New Zealand; presented by the New Zealand 

 Institute. 



Two perfect skins (male and female) of the long-eared Deer ( Ccrvus macmtis) from 

 Yellow-stone River, Montana; purchased. 



Two fine skins of a large Patagonian Deer, believed to be the Guemul of Molina; 

 presented by Don Enrique Simpson, Chilian Navy, 



A series of skins and skeletons of the singular deer recently discovered in Southern 

 1 88. D 4 China, 



