ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 43 



Catalogues of the Extinct Mammalia, by Mr. Lydekker, of Lizards, by Mr. Boulenger, 

 and the tenth volume of the Catalogue of Birds, by Mr. Sharpe, are in the press. 



The distribution of duplicates has been confined this year to the Departments of 

 Mineralogy and Geology, the large number reported last year from the Zoological 

 collections having exhausted the material selected as no longer required for the pui'i^oses 

 of the Museum. A list of the institutions which have been benefited by the extensive 

 distribution of Mineral specimens Avill be found in the report of the keeper of that 

 department. 



The Swiney Lectures on Geology were delivered in June last by Dr. R. H. Traquair, 

 r.R.S., and were attended by an average of thirty-five persons. 



The most important general structural work completed during the year has been the 

 new lodge near the western entrance to the grounds, now occupied by the messenger and 

 assistant messenger. A fourth boiler has been added to the heating apparatus, the 

 three previously provided having not been found sufficient for the needs of the building 

 in cold weather. 



The following is the report of the progress of the General Library. 



General Library: — During the year 1884, 2,114 volumes were added to this Library, 

 bringing up the total number to 12,034. 



Of these additions 98 were presented, 148 transferred from other Departments, and 

 1,868 acquired by purchase. 



The preliminary catalogue has been printed and distributed. 



The work of writing title-slips for the final catalogue has progressed, and 3,361 

 volumes have been catalogued, for which 



33 main titles and 34 cross references have been revised. 

 257 „ „ 872 „ „ written. 



and 11 5, ,j 5 „ „ re-written. 



The total number of volumes catalogued up to the close of the year is 8,122 (comprising 

 the whole of the serial publications), and for these 2,428 title-slips have been written. 



482 volumes have been bound dui'ing the past year, and 534 have had the General 

 Library badge stamped on them. 



1,118 volumes have been stamped. 



4,785 have had the press-marks inserted, and in 192 it has been altered. Press-mark 

 labels have been affixed to 746 volumes. 



W. if. Flower, 

 British Museum (Natural History), Director. 



Cromwell-road, S.W., 1 January 1885. 



Department of Zoology. 



The principal aim of the work of the past year was the completion of the exhibitions in 

 the several Galleries for the instruction of the general public, and the preparation of 

 Guides " or Hand-books." The Osteological and Cetacean Galleries, the contents of 

 which had never been exhibited before, were completed, the former as early as April 14th, 

 while the latter can be thrown open to the public at the beginning of the financial year 

 Avhen the means for its protection will be available. The Galleries containing the exhibi- 

 tions of Fishes, Insects, and British Animals are in a more or less advanced state of 

 arrangement, and it is confidently hoped that they will be accessible to the public during 

 the present year. 



The text of several of the " Guides " is completed or in a forward state of preparation ; 

 they Avill be published as soon as the illustrations which are to accompany the text are 

 engraved. 



Although every offer of purchase was declined, unless it included specimens of excep- 

 tional value, the acquisitions considerably exceeded in number and importance the 

 average of the last ten years; and it is satisfactory to note that much more than one-half 

 of these additions were donations, to the majority of which, moreover, special scientific 

 interest is attached. Of course, the attention which had to be paid to so large an 

 amount of material occupied much of the time of the staff of the Department. Beside 

 the ordinary routine work connected with eveiy addition to the Collections, the most 

 important specimens had to be examined, incorporated, and described. In fact, many 

 donations are made with the understanding that, if their value justifies such a course, a 

 report upon them shall be published. These duties were performed in all branches of the 

 Department with the exception of the Entomological, the members of which branch are 

 too (ew to cope with the increase of their collections ; so that entire Orders, like those of 

 JDiplera, Neuroptera, Hemiptera, Ortlioplera, receive, at j>resent, no more attention than 

 the care which is requisite for their preservation. 



Comparatively few specimens were added to the stock of duplicates, and no time could 

 be given to their distribution to other institutions. 



The printing of the report on the extensive collections made during the Surveying 

 0.73. 03 Voyage 



