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



Selected series of the Arctic Fossils discovered during the Expedition of H.M-SS. 

 " Alert " and " Discovery," under Capt. Sir George Nares, C.B,, have been determineil, and 

 are labelled and exhibited in the Geological Gallery. 



Among these the most noteworthy are the evidences of vegetable life, from Latitude 

 81° 45' N., and hongitude 64* 45' W., a higher latitude than has been reached by any 

 previous Expedition. These fossils are refei-red by the experienced Botanist Professor 

 Oswald Heer, to genera most of which are no longer capable of existing within the 

 Arctic circle. They were discovered in the black shales of middle or older tertiary age 

 overlying the great coal-seam at Discovery Bay ; were collected by Capt. Feilden, r.a., 

 under circumstances of unexampled difficulty, and brought away by most jminful and 

 persevering exertions during arduous sledge journeys. 



They include remains of kinds of Elm, Poplar, WilloAv, Birch, Spruce, Hazel, with 

 evidences of a Water-lily {Nymphcea arctica), testifying to the existence of probably a 

 small lake, the fresh-water of which must have remained open during a great part of the 

 year, and at the muddy margins of which grew large reeds and sedges (Carex). Of the 

 genera, referable to the Families TaxinecB, Cuj^ressineeE, TaxodicE, and Ahietmce, may be 

 especially noted Tdxodium, i-epresented by a species Craxodium distichum miocenum), of 

 which leuf-covered twigs with the male-flowers were obtained, botanically indistinguish- 

 able from those of the species which now exists only in Mexico and the Southern 

 members of the United States of America. 



Alterations in the disposition and proportions of land and sea are quite inadequate to 

 account for the change of climate in actual arctic latitudes, to which these fossils, with pre- 

 viously discovered ones from Spitzbergen and Greenland, bear testimony. Geology is 

 compelled to fall back on cosmical conditions effecting change in the direction of tlie polar 

 axis with resj^ect to the sun's light. Mere augmentation of internal terrestrial heat would, 

 otherwise, be attended with the lethal influence of the continuous darkness of the long 

 Arctic winter night. 



The richly augmented series of the Mineralogy shows its usual perfect state of preserva- 

 tion, exposition, instructive arrangement and labelling. 



Amongst the Donations to the Zoology is that of the Male and Female Chamois, by 

 His Imperial and Royal Highness the Crown -Prince Rudolph of Austria. 



Other 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 tl.e New 

 Natural History Musenm, the work of the Department continues to be principally directed 

 with a view to their satisfactory arrangement in the new galleries. 



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

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

 specimens only as are instructive to the general public. Specimens of considerable bulk 

 will always be included in the latter series. All deteriorated specimens, as well as 

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

 nary 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 

 is avoided as much as possible, preference being given to individual objects of great 

 intrinsic value, or to specimens fit to replace those which have been withdrawn from the 

 exhibition series on account of their bad condition. However, this object has been only 

 partially obtained on account of the unusually great number of donations with which the 

 Zoological Collections have been enriched during the past year. 



I. — Arrangement. 



The additions to the Collections of Mammals, Reptiles, and Fishes have been entered 

 into the printed Catalogues. 



The re-arrangement of the Passerine Birds, Avhich was commenced in the year 1876, 

 has been continued ; and it is hoped that, with the additional help offered by Henry 

 Seebohm, Esq., its more rapid progress has been insured. 



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

 " Catalogue of Fishes " has proceeded as far as the fourth volume. 



The arrangement and description of a large collection of Japanese shells has occupied 

 all the time of the Conchologist that could be sjaared from the labour necessary to insure 

 the conservation of the general collection of Mollusca. 



The manuscript List of the Crustacea Brachyura is in progress; all the accessions to 

 the collection of Crustaceans have been incorporated, the majority of specimens having 

 been identified at the same time. A " Revision of the t-'lagusiinae," a " Revision of the 



Hippidea," 



