ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 27 



The systematically arranged and exhibited series of stuffed specimens, and those of 

 fishes preserved in spirits, together with the shells, insects, Crustacea, and other species 

 illustrative of the Zoology of the British Isles, are in a good state of preservation; as are 

 also the specimens of the nests and eggs of British birds and lower animals. 



The exhibited series of Fossils, as well as the more numerous specimens in store, are in 

 a good state of preservation. The addition to the exhibited series of fossils of the Marsu- 

 pialia from recent deposits of Australia, and of those from mesozoic beds of England, is 

 an interesting and instructive one. References to the descriptions and figures of these 

 fossils are added to the labels of names and localities. 



The now much increased series of Mineralogy shows its usual good state of preserva- 

 tion, exposition, and instructive arrangement. 



The most notable additions to the several classes of the Natural History are specified 

 in the respective Departmental Reports. 



Richard Owen. 



Department of Zoology. 



As the time approaches for the removal of the Zoological Collections into the New 

 Natural History Museum, the work of the Department is principally directed with a view 

 to their satisfactory arrangement in the new galleries. 



The series intended for Bcientlfic study is kept strictly distinct from that intended for 

 exhibition, which series is being selected on the principle that it should only contain such 

 specimens as are instructive to the general public. All deteriorated specimens, as well 

 as valuable types which are of greater interest to the scientific student than to the 

 ordinary visitor and which are likely to suffer from exposure to light, are being withdrawn 

 from the exhibition series ; and in order to lessen, for a time, the labour of registering and 

 incorporating new acquisitions, the purchase of very extensive and unnamed collections 

 of vertebrate animals is avoided as much as possible, preference being given to individual 

 objects (f great intrinsic value. 



I. — Arrangement. 



The examination and determination of the Collection of Chiroptera has been completed ; 

 it consists of 2,400 specimens, one half of which are preserved in spirits. 



The re-arrangement of the Passerine Birds, which was commenced in the preceding 

 year, has been continued. 



Further valuable additions to the series of gigantic Land-Tortoises, and their osseous 

 remains, have been received, systematically arranged, and described. 



The additions to the Collections of Lizards have been entered into the printed Cata- 

 logues. 



The systematic list of all the species of Fishes described since the publication of the 

 " Catalogue of Fishes " has proceeded as far as the third volume. Several groups, as 

 the GobiidcB, BlenniidcB, and Mugilidce, have been re-examined, and numerous recent 

 acquisitions have been catalogued. 



The work of re-arranging the series of Shells has been interrupted in consequence of 

 the great number of donations received in the course of the year, which required immediate 

 attention. The Mollusca collected during the visit of H.M.S. "Peterel" to the Gala- 

 pagos Islands have been desci'Ibed and incorporated. 



The manuscript List of the Crustacea Brac.hyiira is in progress ; and all the various 

 accessions to the collection of Crustaceans generally, including extensive series f'-om 

 California, and the Samoa Islands, have been identified and incorporated. 



A great part of the time of the Entomologists of the Department has been occupied in 

 selecting desiderata from numerous collections offered for sale, and in registering, exa- 

 mining, and describing the accessions thus obtained. The types, and all the most valuable 

 specimens of Coleoptera of the late Mr. Edwin Brown's collection, and the complete 

 collection of Coleoptera formed by the late Mr. T. V. "VVoUaston at St. Helena, have been 

 thus immediately transferred into the general collections. The arrangement of thei 

 Lepidopterous families, Liparidce and Notodontida, has been completed, and that of the 

 Limacodida is in progress. 



The work of determining, arranging, and cataloguing the extensive series of Corals, now 

 estimated at about 2,000 specimens, has been proceeded with ; and the general arrange- 

 ment of the Bowerbankian collection of Sponges (hereafter to be mentioned), commenced. 



Such of the collections made by the late Arctic Expedition as have been hitherto 

 deposited in the British Museum, have been examined, named, and arranged. Detailed 

 reports and descriptions of the more interesting forms have been prepared for publication, 



XL Catahguing. 



The following Catalogues have been printed during the year 1877 : — 



The gigantic Land Tortoises (living and extinct.) By A. Giinther, F.E.8., 4to. (pp. 96, 

 with 54 plates). 



159. D 2 Catalogue 



