ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



VII. — General Administration. 



The measure of giving expanfeion to the exhibition of works of art and antiquity by 

 the separation of the Natural History collections is on the eve of completion. The last 

 remaining but most considerable of the Departments, that of Zoology, is in progress of 

 removal, and may be expected to be established in the Museum in Cromwell-road in the 

 course of the summer of the present year. Portions of the collections, — the Osteolosy, 

 the Reptiles and Fishes; the Mammalia, the collection of Mollusca, and the Shells, 

 Echinoderms, Corals, and Sponges, — are already placed and partially arranged in their new 

 galleries. A detached building, specially designed for the zoological specimens preserved 

 in spirit, is nearly ready for their reception. Pending this removal of the Zoological collec- 

 tions, no material jarogress has been possible in extending the exhibition of antiquities. 



The ncAv Sculpture Gallery erected from funds bequeathed by Mr. William White 

 has been completed, and the friezes and other works from the Tomb of Mausolus have been 

 removed into it and partly re-arranged ; many portions of the monument, hilherto placed 

 out of sight in the basement, having been added to the exhibited remains. 



The arrangement of British and Anglo-Saxon antiquities in the rooms formerly occu- 

 pied by Botanical specimens has been carried out, and the rooms opened to visitors. 



The Eeading Room has been kept open until 8 p.m. by aid of the electric light, from 

 the beginning of September to the end of April. 



The concentration in the galleries of the Reading Room of books most in requisition 

 by readers has been proceeded with ; two-thirds of the lower gallery being now occupied 

 by selected works. 



A reference collection of illustrated works on Architecture, Art and Archteology, has 

 been formed, as auxiliary to the selection in the Reading Room, and placed in the 

 Northerji Saloon of the Library, near to the Reading Room. 



The printing of the Catalogue of Accessions to the Library has been continued ; and 

 the scheme of printing adopted for the general Catalogue of the Library, liitlierto con- 

 fined to full volumes of the Catalogue in MS. incapable of receiving additional titles, has 

 been enlarged, and has now been applied to the further object of putting the whole 

 Catalogue in type, from the beginning onwards. The titles also for the concluding- 

 portion of the Catalogue, from the middle of letter V., as they are prepared in MS., are 

 now being printed off, instead of being laid down in volumes. It is hoped that on the 

 completion of the Catalogue, Avhich may be looked for within the current year, the work 

 of revision and printing may be accelerated. 



The addition to the Museum Building on the south-eastern corner, to be erected from 

 (he funds bequeathed by Mr. White, has been commenced, and the works are carried for- 

 ward to nearly the full height of the outer walls. It is designed to give extension to the 

 Department of MSS. on the south side, including a room for the use of illuminated and 

 rare MSS. ; to provide accommodation for newspapers, with a Reading Hoom in which 

 they may be consulted ; to receive the Department of Prints and Drawings, with pro- 

 vision of studies and exhibition galleries ; and to supply an additional gallery for the 

 Department of British and Mediteval Antiquities. 



At the British Museum of Natural History in Cromwell-road, a large basement-room 

 has been fitted for the exhibition of skeletons of Cetacea ; and progress has been made 

 in the arrangement of the collections of Fossil b'ishts, Invertebrata, Corals, Plants, &c., in 

 the side galleries of the Department of Geology. 



The annual course of Lectures on Geology, founded by the late Dr. George Swiney, 

 has been delivered at the British Museum (Natural History). 



The Museum publications have been given to Free Libraries of the United Kingdom. 



Reproductions of Eai-ly Italian Prints, and the series of volumes of descriptions of 

 Ancient Marbles, have been presented to public Art Schools and Museums ; and electro- 

 types of ancient coins to the iViuseums of Glasgow, Cork, and Nottingham. 



Duplicate Natural History specimens have been distributed to various institutions. 



The following are the publications of the year : — 



General Catalogue of the British Museum Library: Folio. 



Parts: — A. — Aca. ; Ari. — Arr. ; Ass. — Aud. ; D. — Dal.; Dal. — Dan.; Dup. — 

 Dzy. ; Git.— Gny. ; Goe.— Goo. ; GUI.— Gze. ; Ste.— Sto. ; Sto.— Str. ; Str.— 

 Sve. 



Special Parts :i-ByKON, Swedenborg, Virgil, Xenophon. 



Catalogue 



