ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 29 



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 

 the 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 shells, &c., as in the case of the recently anatomized Spirula australis, 

 throwing light upon tlie functions of the chambers and si^jhon of the extinct jjolythala- 

 mous and siphoniferous shells. 



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

 exhibited in the floor-cases of the Public Gallery. The aim of increasing the attrac- 

 tiveness and instrucliveness 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 

 affected by exposure to light. The unexhibited shells, preserved in the drawers of the 

 cabinets, and to which in the present year has been added a large collection of Japanese 

 shells, are in a state of perfect preservation, and are available for the needs of scientific 

 visitors and of students of Conchology. 



The proportion of the class Insecta ,-pi\hY\c\j displayed, showing rare and interesting modi- 

 fications of structure, shape, and colour, and exemplifying characters of the larger natural 

 groups of the class, are in a good state of preservation. The much larger proportion of 

 the Iiisecta in the Entomological Room in the basement, is in a good state of preservation, 

 and is so arranged, in drawers, as to be conveniently accessible for the requirements of the 

 numerous students ol this extensive and varied class of animals. 



The Lepidopterist will be especially aided by the Catalogue in which rare examples 

 of that beautiful order are described and figured, and of which Part II., by Mr. A. G. 

 Butler, has been published in the present year. 



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 classes pre- 

 served in spirits is in a good state of preservation. 



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

 dried state, including the larger spiders and scorpions, are exhibited in the floor cases of 

 the Public Gallery. Both these, and the similarly preserved specimens arranged in 

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

 plifying the singular modifications of form and structure in the tracheal division of the 

 class, are in a state of preservation. 



The same good condition can be reported of the qXtissqs Annelida, Gepliyrea, Turhellaria, 

 and Entozoa, represented by the specimens preserved in spirits. 



The proportion of the class Echinodej-mata, 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, have received the attention 

 and care requisite for their continued good condition and availability for study and com- 

 parison. 



The corals and hard parts of Undiata and Protozoa, the latter represented by the 

 framework of sponges and by models of the Radiolaria and other microscopic forms, 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 Amurpliozoa are well preserved 

 in store- drawers and cabinets, where they are accessible for study and comparison. 



The series of Osteological specimens, including the collection of Horns and Antlers, is 

 in a good state of preservation. Amongst the additions to this series may be noted an 

 articulated skeleton of the Leather-backed Turtle {DermatoclLelys {ISphargis) coriacea) ; 

 also skeletons of the male, female, and young of the Chinese deer (Elaphodes cephalophus) ; 

 and a skeleton of the rare Cetacean, Ziphius capensis. 



The collections of Kests and Nidamental Structures, both exhibited and in store, are in 

 a good state of preservation. The series of Birds' eggs has received a notable accession 

 through the liberal donation of Messrs. Godwin and Salvin. 



As exemplifying the Illustrative series of Birds' nests, for which space will be afforded 

 in the New Museum, examples have been placed in the Avian and Conchological Gallery 

 of those of Colymhus cristatus, Fidica atru, and Alauda arvensis, with the 2:)arent Birds, 

 and, in some cases, the newly-hatched young. 



The systematically arranged and exhibited Series of stuffed s^jecimens of Vertehrata, 

 and those of the fishes preserved in s^^Irlts, together with the Invertebrate species, illus- 

 trative of the Fauna of the British Isles, are in a good state of preservation ; as are also 

 the specimens of the nests and eggs of the British Birds. 



The exhibited series of Fossil Remains, as well as the numerous specimens in store, are 

 in a good state of preservation. The addition, by the liberal donation of Rear-Admiral 

 Spratt, C.B., r.K.S., to the exhibited series of Fossils, of the remains of the extinct Pygmy 

 Elephants, discovered In the Zubbug Cave, Malta, is an interesting and instructive one. 

 To the series of singular Rejitillan remains from the Cape of Good Hope, a large addi- 

 tion has been contributed by Thomas Bain, Esq., Surveyor of Roads to the Colony. 

 They were collected by him in districts of the Karoo and Gouph formations, and the 

 specimens which have hitherto been relieved of the matrix exemplify new species, or tend 

 to complete our knowledge of those previously defined. 



17U. D 3 Selected 



