a6 ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



Departments of Natural Histort. 



During the past year the state of preservation and general good condition of the speci- 

 mens of Natural History have been maintained. The additions registered in the same 

 period are in number 44,097; of which 24,184 have been received in the Department 

 of Zoology, 16,653 in that of Geology, and 3,260 in that of Mineralogy. 



The exhibited specimens of the stuffed and mounted skins of the Mammalia have re- 

 ceived due application of processes in prevention of decay ; attention has been specially 

 given to those of the larger species during modifications of arrangement, to admit of 

 additions in the Central and Mammalian Saloons. Amongst these additions the specimen 

 of the musk-ox {Ovibos moschatus) obtained through the last Arctic Expedition, is specially 

 worthy of notice. 



The unstuffed skins of the Mammalia are in a good state of preservation, and have re- 

 ceived, where needed, the appliances fitting them for future mounting, in the case of all 

 specimens to be selected for the purpose of exhibition in the new museum now approach- 

 ing completion. The smaller specimens of mammalia preserved in spirits are in good 

 condition. All are, as heretofore, available for the purposes of scientific examination and 

 comparison. 



The collection of bird-skins mounted and exhibited is in a good state of preservation ; as 

 are also the unstuffed skins preserved in drawers and boxes. These are equally available, 

 with the collection open to the general public, for the jjurposes of scientific study and 

 comparison. 



The proportion of the collections of Reptiles and Fishes displayed in the public gal- 

 leries is in a good state of preservation and arrangement. 



The specimens of gigantic Tortoises recently described by Dr. Glinther, F.R.s., and 

 added to the exhibited series, are specially worthy of note. 



The stored specimens of Reptiles and Fishes, both dry and in spirits, are in good condi- 

 tion, and available for scientific work. 



The nomenclature and synomyms of the specimens, both exhibited and stored, of the 

 above classes of vertebrate animals, have baeii verified and, where needfnl, corrected, and 

 the specimens labelled accordingly. 



Of the invertebrate classes, the specimens of the Mollusca, preserved in spirits, with the 

 shell, or removed from the shell, and the species of the shell-less orders and families, 

 similarly preserved, have received due attention, and are in a state of preservation fit for 

 applications of anatomical research, where such is needful in determining affinity and 

 place in the natural series ; available also for comparison with the fossil casts of the 

 cavities of the shells of extinct species. 



Of the series of shells of Mollusca, a large proportion is arranged and exhibited in the 

 floor-cases of the Public Gallery. The aim of increasing the attractiveness and instruc- 

 tiveness of this popular series has governed the substitution of better specimens, or of 

 fresher ones, in the place of those the colours of which had been aflfected by exposure to 

 light. The unexhibited shells, preserved in the drawers of the cabinets, are in a state 

 of perfect preservation, and are available, like those exhibited, to scientific visitors and 

 students. 



The proportion of the class Insecta, publicly displayed, showing rare and interesting 

 modifications of shape and colour, and exemplifying characters of the larger groups of the 

 class, is in a good state of preservation. The large proportion of Insecta in the Entomo- 

 logical Room is in good state of preservation, and is so arranged, in drawers, as to be eon- 

 veniently accessible for study and comparison. 



The proportion of the class Crustacea, exemplified by representative species of orders 

 and minor groups, exhibited and systematically arranged, is in good preservation. The 

 larger proportion stored in drawers is in a similar condition, through due application of 

 taxidermal processes in reference to their dried state. The proportion of the class pre- 

 served in spirits is in a good state of preservation. 



The specimens of the class Arachnida, susceptible of instructive preservation in the 

 dried state, including the larger kinds of spiders and scorpions, are exhibited in the glazed 

 cabinets of the Public Gallery. Both these, and the similarly preserved specimens 

 arranged in drawers, are in good condition. The numerous specimens preserved in spirits 

 are in a state of preservation. 



The same good condition can be reported of the classes Annelida, Gephyrea, Turhellaria, 

 and Entozoa, represented by the specimens preserved in spirits. 



The larger proportion of the Echinodtrmata, now systematically arranged and exhibited 

 in the Public Galleries, is in a good state of preservation. The specimens in store, both 

 dried and preserved in spirit, are in good condition. 



The corals and hard parts of other Radiata, together with the framework of sponges, 

 now exhibited in detached glazed cases in the Mammalian and Avian Galleries, are in a 

 good state of preservation. The major part of the Radiata and Amorphozoa are well 

 preserved in store-drawers and cabinets, where they are accessible for study and com- 

 parison. 



The series of Osteological specimens, those of horns and antlers, and of the nests and 

 nidamental structures, both exhibited and in store, are in a good state of preservation, and 

 available for study and comparison. 



The 



