26 ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH 



MUSEUM. 



Depaetments of Natural History. 



The number of specimens added to the Departments of Natural History in the year 

 1873, is 30,424. Of these, 10,644 have been registered in the Department of Zoology, 

 18,501 in the Department of Geology, and 1,297 in the Department of Mineralogy. The 

 additions to the Botanical Department are noted under that head. 



During the past year, the state of preservation and general good condition of the 

 specimens of Zoology, Geology, and Mineralogy, have been maintained. 



The stuffed and mounted specimens of the class Mammalia, which, from their large size, 

 or want of wall space, stand on the floor, or are suspended to the walls of the Mammalian 

 Gallery, have received the continuous care and treatment necessary to prevent or diminish 

 the effects of such exposure. 



The unstufFed skins of the Mammalia are in a good state of preservation, applicable to 

 the purposes of scientific examination and comparison, and many of them retain the con- 

 ditions suitable for future mounting and exhibition. 



The specimens which have been stuffed, mounted, and added to the exhibited series, 

 include ; — 



A Tapirus malayanus ; a Deer and a Muntjac from China, sent by R. Swinhoe, Esq. ; 

 Guzella rujifrons, male and female ; Gazella scemmerinqii male ; Oi'eotragus saltatrix, male 

 and female ; specimens of rare Lemurs (Propithecus) from Madagascar; these latter, from 

 want of space in the glazed cases of the Mammalian saloon, are placed in the Bird 

 Gallery. 



The much larger proportion of stufi'ed and mounted skins of the class Aves, is in a 

 state of preservation. Due care has been bestowed on the collection of unstuff'ed skins 

 of birds preserved in boxes ; they are in a good state of preservation, available for the 

 purposes of study and comparison, and have contributed to the accuracy and completeness 

 of the Catalogues of Species and Varieties of Birds noAv in progress, as well as to some 

 valuable Monagraphs. 



The proportion of the collection of Reptilia stuffed, mounted, and exhibited, is in a 

 good state of preservation. Most of these specimens occupy glazed wall-cases. The 

 larger specimens suspended above the cabinets have received the same attention as the 

 exposed stufied specimens of the Mammalia, and with the same results as regards their 

 state of preservation. 



The proportion of the class Pisces, similarly prepared or preserTsd in spirits, and displayed 

 in systematic order in the glazed cabinets of the Gallery, is, under present conditions and 

 allotments of space, necessarily small. These specimens are in good condition, and through 

 typical selection, afford elementary instruction. 



The greater proportion of this class available for advance of knowledge in Ichthyology, 

 preserved in alcohol, and stored in the basement vaults, are in a state of preservation, 

 care being taken to keep the room at as low a temperature as possible. 



The larger proportion of the series of Shells of the Molluscn, arranged and exhibited in 

 the glazed cases of the public Gallery, is in a good state of preservation ; and by the 

 systematic classification and labels, this series gives most useful aid in comparison of 

 specimens and in the study of Conchology. The unexhibited shells, preserved for the 

 most part in systematic arrangement in the drawers of cabinets, are in a state of perfect 

 preservation, exhibiting the colours in a brighter state than in many of the exposed 

 specimens. 



The animal constructors of the shells, and the shell-less Mollusca, preserved in spirits, 

 and stored in the Basement vaults, have received continuous care, are in a state of pre- 

 servation fit for the needful applications of anatomical research in relation to determining 

 the affinities of their shells, and for comparison with the fossil casts of the interior of 

 shells of extinct species. 



The small portion of the class Insecta, publicly displayed, is in a state of preservation, 

 and is instructively arranged and labelled. The large portion of the class in the drawers 

 of the cabinets in the Entomological Room is in a good state of preservation, and its 

 applicability to purposes of comparison and study is attested by the numerous applica- 

 tions for admission by studious visitors. The colour of the Lepidopterous specimens 

 which first shows the effects of the unavoidable temporary exposure for such purposes, is 

 the bright red : this fades to a brick-colour, which appears to be stationary. In the 

 recent insects, the red is due to pigmental particles in the scales ; the metallic hues of 

 blue, violet, and green, due to minute sculpturing of the surface of the scales, are not so 

 affected. Faded specimens are replaced, where practicable, by fresh ones of the same 

 species in good condition, and of equivalent character as to size, sex, &c. Comparisons 

 of smaller insects of other orders are facilitated by the progressive substitution of pins of 

 uniform length, bringing the specimens to one level in the drawers. 



The portion of the class Crustacea, exhibited and systematically arranged, and the 

 larger portion stored in drawers are in a a good state of preservation, and are at present 

 being re-examined and re-arranged. The specimens preserved in spirits, the number of 

 which has been much increased, are in a state of preservation. 



Of the class Arachnida (Scorpions, Spiders, Mites), a few only of the larger kinds are 

 exposed to view, stuffed or dried in the glazed cabinets : both these and the larger 

 number of similarly preserved specimens arranged in drawers are in a good condition. 



A large 



