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



C. PLANTiE. 



One hundred and thirty-eight Plant-remains, from the Pliocene of Sicily. 



Two hundred Plant-remains, including large leaves of Palms, &c., and all the types of 

 Fossil Ferns, figured and described by MM. Gardner and Ettingshausen (see Mon. Pal. 

 Soc. 1879-80, Parts I. and II., Eocene Flora), from Lower Bagshot Beds of Bournemouth 

 and Studland Bay, Dorsetshire, &c. 



Six slabs of Plant-remains from the Permian formation of South Africa. 



Two hundred and seventeen Plant-remains, from New Zealand. 



Thirty-seven Plant-remains and Fossil wood, from Tasmania. 



Forty-four Coal-plants, from Grundy, Co. Illinois, U.S.A. 



Six Plant-remains from various localities (Morris Collection). 



The total acquisitions during the past year are as follows: — 



I. By Donation, A. Vertebrata - - - - - 66 



II. „ Purchase, A. Vertebrata _ _ - _ . 433 



I. „ Donation, B. Invertebrata - - - - - 103 

 II. „ Purchase, B. Invertebrata - _ - - _ 4,144 



I. „ Donation, C. Plantsa ------ 50 



II. „ Purchase, C. Plantse - - - - . - - 650 



Total - - - 5,496 



III. By Transfer of miscellaneous Foreign Fossils, mostly 

 Invertebrata, from the Museum of Practical Geology 



(see ante, p. 38), estimated roughly at - - 50,000 



55,496 



Henry Woodward. 



Mineral Department, 17 January 1881. 

 The Scientific Catalogue has not progressed with great rapidity during the past year. 

 Ever since this important task was commenced the dependence on Bloomsbury daylight 

 for purposes of crystal measurement has been, especially during the winter months, a very 

 serious hindrance to a satisfactory investigation of the exact forms of the crystals ; and 

 this will be the more intelligible when it is pointed out that the angles of a crystal, and 

 thus its symmetry, are determined by help of the reflections of a signal from the various 

 faces, and that unless the signal is a very bright one the position of its image as seen in a 

 small crystal-face is not susceptible of accurate observation. It is hoped, however, that 

 the daylight of Kensington, and the artifical light which it Avill soon be possible to procure, 

 will conduce in no small degree to the advancement of this portion of the departmental 

 work. A large amount of time has been given to the crystallographic determination of 

 the numerous specimens of blende and cobaltite. The library attached to the department 

 has received important additions : apart from current periodicals, and including pamphlets, 

 215 works, in 603 volumes, have been purchased, and all of these have been catalogued 

 and stamped. 



Arrangement. 



The available energy of the department has been concentrated during the latter part 

 of the year on the removal of the specimens from their position in the old gallery at 

 the British Museum to that in the new one at South Kensington. This transference has 

 been effected almost absolutely without damage to the specimens, from the most delicate 

 of which scarcely a crystal has been disturbed during the transit. As arranged in the 

 old gallery the specimens illustrative of species and varieties were exposed to view in the 

 tops of sixty-one table cases ; these tops have been left behind at Bloomsbury, while the 

 pedestals have all been transferred and built up into larger cases, for which new tops 

 have been provided ; and in these tops, which have a total area equal to five-fourths of the 

 total area of the old ones, are now arranged the minerals formerly exhibited, supple- 

 mented where necessary by specimens from the drawers. This collection has been for 

 the last two months available for students, every specimen being accompanied by a 

 label stating its name and what is known of its locality. The glazed ends are being 

 gradually provided with the requisite fittings, and the larger specimens therein arranged ; 

 it is expected that this work will be completed within the next four weeks, 



Acguisitions, 



