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



Skin and skeleton of Halmaturus wilcoxii ; presented by James F. Wilcox, Esq. 



The type of Dorcopsis luctuosa from New Guinea ; purchased of the Zoological Society. 



Birds. — This part of the collections has been again increased by numerous and valuable 

 acquisitions, 61 additional species and 23 typical specimens having been secured. The 

 total number of acquisitions amounts to 2,253, of which the following may be specially 

 mentioned : — 



The collection of Spanish Birds of Prey, formed by Howard Saunders, Esq., and con- 

 taining choice specimens of many of the rarest European species of this group ; purchased. 



A series of 43 specimens selected from Mr. Basil Brooke's collection of Sardinian Birds ; 

 purchased. 



One hundred and fifty specimens from France, Turkey, and Southern Europe ; pre- 

 sented by R. B. Sharpe, Esq. 



A pair and eggs of the recently discovered New Georgian Black Grouse {Tetrao 

 mlokosiewiczi) ; presented by Count Branicki. 



A specimen of the very rare Podoces panderi, from Central Asia ; presented by Dr. 

 N. Severtzow. 



A series of Crows, from Eastern Siberia ; purchased. 



One hundred and fifty-six specimens from Kamptee, Central India ; presented by Dr. B. 

 Hinde. 



Eighty-six specimens from Upper Assam ; presented by R. B. Sharpe, Esq. 



A collection of 57 Birds, obtained by Mr. A. Everett in Northern Borneo, and described 

 in the " Ibis " for 1875 ; purchased. 



The third portion of the Collection of African Birds, formed by, and formerly in the 

 possession of, Mr. R. B. Sharpe; it consists of 591 specimens, and contains 11 types: 

 purchased. 



A collection of 180 specimens made in the interior of South Africa by F. A. Barratt, 

 Esq. ; partly obtained as present, partly by purchase. 



A most valuable collection, made by Mr. Crossley in Madagascar, and described in the 

 "Proceedings of the Zoological Society" for 1875 ; purchased. 



Two specimens of Didunculus, and four other species in spirits, from Samoa ; presented 

 by the Rev. S. J. Whitmee. 



A small collection of rare Australian Birds of Prey, described in the " Proceedings of 

 the Zoological Society" for 1875 ; purchased. 



Two collections of Australian Crow-Shrikes, containing the types of species described 

 and figured by J. Gould, Esq.; purchased. 



An Australian Booted Yi2ig\e {Nisuttus morphiioides): presented by J. B. White, Esq, 



A collection of 80 skins of Birds from New Zealand, containing various species of 

 Apteryx, and a complete series of Huias {Heteralucha gouldii); and another series pre- 

 served in spirits ; obtained by exchange from the Colonial Museum, Wellington. 



The nearly complete skeleton of the extinct gigantic flightless goose of New Zealand 

 ( Cnemiornis), described by Dr. Hector ; presented by the Hon. Capt. Fraser, Member 

 of the Legislative Council. 



A series of 63 Birds from the Galapagos Islands, collected by Dr. A. Habel; purchased. 



A series of 50 Owls from various localities; purchased. 



Reptiles and Amphibians. — The opportunities of adding to this part of the collection 

 have been exceptionally few in number, 131 specimens only having been acquired during 

 the last year. 



A gigantic Land-Tortoise, from Aldabra ; presented by Dr. Gunther. 



The type of another species of this group of Tortoises ( Testudo microphyes) ; purchased. 



A large species of Sea Snake from Torres Straits, seven feet long {Hydrophis major), 

 and two collections of Lizards from various islands of the South Seas, made by 

 W. Wykeham Perry, Esq. and A Corrie, Esq., during the cruise of H.M.S. "Pearl," whilst 

 under the command of the late Commodore Goodenough. 



A small collection of Tree Frogs from Santarem ; purchased. 



Fishes. — The total number of specimens received amounts to 513. 



The most important addition was the acquisition of two Basking-Sharks (Selache 

 maxima), an adult male and young female. The former is 28 feet long, with a greatest 

 circumference of 13 feet. It was captured on March 2nd, near Shanklin, Isle of Wight. 

 It is this species which is chased on the West Coast of Ireland for the sake of the oil 

 which is extracted from the liver, one fish yielding from a ton to a ton and a-half. The 

 young female is 11 1 feet long; it was bought of a London fishmonger who stated that it 

 was captured oif the coast of Lowestoft. 



A specimen of a Top-knot {Phrynorhombus unimaculatus), from N. W. Spain ; pre- 

 sented by the Earl of Ducie, f.r.s. 



A series of 39 specimens from Lake Baikal, all of which were desiderata to the Col- 

 lection; obtained by exchange from the Warsaw Museum. 



Seven specimens, collected by the donor in Western Yunan ; presented by Dr. J. 

 Anderson. 



A large specimen of a Deep-sea Fish ( 2'rachypterus) from Mauritius, the first obtained 

 in the Indian Ocean ; presented by L. Bouton, Esq. 



A specimen of Galeocerdo arcticus, 13 feet long, from Mauritius ; purchased. 



One hundred and seven marine fishes, from Samoa ; presented by the Rev. S. J. 

 Whitmee. 



Twenty-one 



