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



V. Acquisitions. 



During the last year 20,960 specimens have been added to the several parts of the 

 collection : — ■ 



Vertebrata - - - - 



- 10,678 







Mollusca _ - - - 



- 4,580 







Annulosa _ - - - 



- 5,364 







Eadiata (and Vermes) - 



338 



as 





, Total - - 



- 20,960, 



compared wit 





24,184 ] 



m 



the year 1877. 





24,685 





1876. 





25,340 





1875. 





30,699 





1874. 





10,644 





1873 





7,524 





1872. 





10,577 





„ 1871. 





8,014 





1870. 



The raai-ked increase since the year 1874 is due ^^artly to the acquisition of several 

 celebrated large private colleciions, partly to the increasing number of donations, and 

 partly to the circumstance that no 02)portunity is lost of obtaining the numerous desiderata 

 in the Invertebrate series. 



The most important acquisitions were the following: — 



1. A selected sei-ies from the collection of African birds, formed by, and formerly in the 

 possession of R. B. Sharpe, Esq. This series includes those specimens only which were 

 desiderata in the British Museum, and consists of 3,444 named specimens, and 54 types. 

 This purchase has been spread over a period of five years. 



2. A collection of 6,650 eggs of birds, formed and presented by Messrs. F. Du Cane 

 Godman, and O. Salvin. It contains the materials collected by them in Europe, North 

 Africa, and Central America, and supplemented by specimens collected by the most trust- 

 worthy collectors, such as the late Mr. J. WoUey. All the specimens being Avell authen- 

 ticated, and in a perfect state of preservation, this collection is one of the most valuable 

 of its kind in existence. 



3. Two valuable additions to the series of Groups of British Birds have been made by 

 Theodore AValker, Esq. They illustrate the nesting habits of the Skylark and the Great 

 Crested Grebe, the parent birds and the nest being mounted with the natural surround- 

 ings. 



4. A very large collection of Fishes, Shells, and Crustaceans, made by Captain H. C. 

 St. John, K.N., during his survey in the Japanese and Corean seas. It contains an 

 unusually large number of new and interesting forms ; the localities of all the specimens 

 are carefully marked; jn-esented by J. Gwyn Jeffreys, E#q., r.K.s. 



5. A selected series of 1,057 named shells, from the collection of the late Mr. Henry 

 Adams, containing numerous types of the sjjecies described by him and his brother, Mr. 

 Arthur Adams. 



6. The " Challenger " series of BracMopoda, consisting of 337 specimens, named, 

 described, and carefully selected, by T. Davidson, Esq., F.K.S. This addition to a pre- 

 viously rich collection renders the British Museum series of recent Brachiopoda probably 

 unequalled. 



Mammalia. — The additions to this class have been 275 in number, of which the most 

 noteworthy are the following : — 



Two specimens of a male and female Chamois from the Tyrol ; presented by H. I. 

 and E.. H. the Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria. 



Two specimens of the Spanish Ichneumon (^Herpestes widdringtonii) and four Hares 

 from Cyprus and Corsica ; presented by Lord Lilford. 



Three skeletons of the European Bear {Ursus arctos); obtained in Transylvania by 

 C. G. Danford, Esq. 



A second series of small Mammals, collected by C. G. Danford, Esq., in Asia Minor; 

 presented by the collector. 



A series of the Mammalia collected by the Naturalists of the Expedition sent by the 

 Geographical Society of Bremen to Western Siberia ; it contains fine specimens of 

 Felis irbis and Ovis ammon ; and three skulls of natives of different tribes, from ancient 

 tombs ; purchased. 



An adult specimen of the Grizzly 'Qe&v {Ursus ferox), horn the Rocky Mountains; 

 purchased. 



Male, 



