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



Ardchnida aud Mt/riopoda. — Two hundred and nine examples have been added, among 

 them a collection of 174 Acaridce made at Highgate Wood, and presented by E. A. 

 Waterhouse, Esq. 



Insecta. — The following are the principal acquisitions : — 



Twenty-nine species of Lepidoptera from Sikkim ; presented by F. Moore, Esq. ; 

 among them the types of species described by the donor and F. Walker, Esq. 



A series of 144 species of Hymenoptera frOm Texas, all new to the collection ; pur- 

 chased. 



Twenty species of Lepidoptera collected by Mr. Whitely in Peru, and all new to the 

 collection ; purchased. 



A large series of Insects of all orders collected by Mr. Buckley in Ecuador, and all 

 new to the collection ; purchased. 



Nine new or very rare species of Cohoptera from Chili ; purchased. 



A scries of 365 Lepidoptera from Espiritu Santo, Brazil ; purchased. The specimens 

 of this series were also entirely new to the collection. 



A collection of various insects from Southern Ja^^an, sent as a first instalment by G. 

 Lewis, Esq. ; presented by F. Smith, Esq. 



A large series of Insects of all orders from Queensland, all new to the collection ; pur- 

 chased. 



The typical specimens of the Japyx solifuga, from Italy, described in the Linnean 

 Transactions by Mr. Haliday. 



Vermes. — A collection of 1 13 specimens of Annelids made at Polperro ; purchased. 



Fifty-six specimens of Annelids obtained on the coast of Portugal during the dredging 

 excursion of the yacht " Noma "; purchased. 



A valuable collection of 97 specimens of the Lumbriridce of Sweden, made and pre- 

 sented by H. G. Eisen, containing typical examples of the species described by him. 



Echinodernuita.— One hundred and ten examples obtained on the coast of Portugal 

 during the dredging excursion of the yacht " Noma "; purchased. 



Forty-five examples from various localities ; presented by Dr. J. E. Gray. 



Five HolothuricE, collected at Bermudas; by J. Matthew Jones, Es f.l.s. 



(^oeleriterata.— 'Eight specimens of Madreporaria and eleven of Gorgoniacea, obtained on 

 the coast of Portugal, during the dredging excursion of the yacht " Noma " ; purchased. 



Twenty specimens of Gorgoniacea, from Natal ; presented by Colonel Bolton. 



Four specimens of Gorgoniacea from Ceylon ; presented by E. W. H. Holdsworth, 

 Esq., F.L.S. 



Protozoa. — A series of 138 microscopic preparations of the spicules of Sponges ; 

 purchased. 



Thirty specimens of Sponges obtained on the coast of Portugal, during the dredging 

 excursion of the yacht " Noma" ; purchased. 



Fourteen specimens of Sponges from Otter Island, Patagonia ; presented by the Lords 

 of the Admiralty. 



Twenty-four specimens of Sponges from Natal ; presented by Col. Bolton. 



A young example of the very rare Xcnospongiapatelliformis,fYova.t\\QVe3iT\-ha,xxk&, 

 Ceylon ; presented by E. W. H. Holdsworth, Esq., F.L.S. 



The typical examples of the beautiful new forms recently di-scovered in the Sea of Cebu 

 by Dr. A. B. Meyer {Meyerina and Crateromorpha). 



A very fine series of 61 examples of Sponges from the Swan River, Western Australia; 

 purchased. . 



IV. — Cataloguing. 



In consequence of the numerous changes which have been made in the system within 

 the last 15 years, and of the large increase of specimens in certain portions of the collec- 

 tion, it has been found necessary to prepare new systematic lists, in manuscript, of all the 

 specimens at present in the Museum. Such lists are in progress, of the specimens of 

 Mammals, Birds, Tortoises, Lizards and MoUusks. 



The following descriptive Catalogues have been completed and printed during the 

 year 1872 : 



" Catalogue of Ruminant Mammalia," by John Edward Gray, f.k.s. 



" Catalogue of Shield Reptiles." Part 11. By John Edward Gray, f.r.s. 



" Appendix to the Catalogue of Shield Reptiles." Part I. Testudinata. By 

 John Edward Gray, F.K.S. 



" Catalogue of Heteropterous Hemiptera." Part V. By Francis Walker, f.l.s. 



V. — Visitors and Students. 



Two thousand two hundred and eighty-four students who have visited this department 

 for the special object of studying the various portions of the collection, have been assisted 

 and attended to. 



J. E. Gray. 



