ACCOUiNTS, &C., OF THE BRITIStI MUSEUM. 45 



labelled. Also a series of naked MoUusca and a small collection of typical specimens of 

 Worms have been mounted in spirit for exhibition. The British Echinodermata, the 

 Crustacea, Coleoptera, Sponges and Polyzoa have been completed. 



As the whole or the greater part of these collections have had to be renewed, the 

 selection and mounting of entirely new series of necessity occui^ies much time. The 

 endeavour has been to make these collections as complete as possible, so as to offer every 

 inducement and means for studying the British Fauna. 



In concluding this part of the Report mention should be made of the transference to 

 the Department of Geology of the " Searles Wood" collection of Invertebrata from the 

 Crag, amounting to about 15,000 specimens, the greater part consisting of the shells of 

 Mollusca, and a smaller portion of fossil Corals and Sponges, However, a small number 

 of specimens were retained, which were considered useful in illustrating the recent series, 

 especially such species as are still found living in the British Seas. 



II. — Registration. 



All the specimens obtained during the past year (with the exception of the Zeller 

 and Koepstorf Collections) have been marked with the date of their acquisition, and 

 a separate number corresponding with an entry in the manuscript register of accessions: 

 in this, for future reference, the name of the' collector, the exact locality in which the 

 specimens were collected, the mode of their acquisition, and any other valuable informa- 

 tion re.;arding them, are entered. 



III. — Conservation. 



The work of conservation has been steadily continued by dusting and cleaning in 

 rotation the specimens of Mammalia and Birds, renewing the camphor in the Store- 

 cabinets and Insect-drawers, and the spirits in the collection of wet preparations. 



The necessity of frequently renewing the spirits becomes more and more apparent 

 since the use of methylated spirit has been introduced. Its joreserving properties are 

 greatly inferior to those of spirits of wine ; after a short time it becomes discoloured, and 

 therefore, is useless for exhibition purposes. The advantage derived from its cheapness 

 is also very doubtful, since it has to be used of greater strength than spirits of wine, and 

 much time and labour have to be expended in changing and redistilling it. 



Much difficulty is experienced in controlling the temperature of the rooms in the base- 

 ment, where the entomological collections are located. The cabinets have, in consequence, 

 been seriously injured by the excessive heat, and it is to be feared that the collections 

 themselves must suffer from the same cause. 



The following specimens liave been mounted for exhibition: — A Brahmin Bull {Bos 

 indicus) ; a bull and cow of the Gour ( Bos gaurus) ; a Wapiti ; a Roan Antelope {Hippo- 

 tragus equinus) ; a lesser Kudu (^Strepsiceros imberbis) , Skeletons of two Indian elephants 

 (one a gigantic male with rudimentary tusks) ; an Indian Rhinoceros, a Tiger, a Tora 

 Antelope, a Wapiti, the extinct Irish Elk (transferred from the Geological Department) ; 

 and a number of the smaller Cetaceans. 



The Bird Gallery received no noteworthy additions, beside a group of Flamingos with 

 their nest and eggs, but several additions have been made to the mounted groups of 

 British bii'ds, viz. : Magpie, Song-thrush, Black-bird, Dai'tfoid Warbler, Reed Warbler, 

 Black-cap, Meadow pipit. Lark, Hawfinch, Pied Wagtail, King-fisher, Norfolk Plover, 

 Woodcock, Red-shank. 



Many specimens were removed from the Bird Gallery and placed with the study series. 



Large examples of fishes received from the International Fisheries Exhibition have 

 been remounted. A magnificent set of Pentairini has been mounted for exhibition in the 

 Starfish Gallery. A commencement has been made in the formation of a collection of 

 microscopic preparations of the spines of Echinoids, and 112 slides have already been 

 mounted. 



A number of large Corals, Alcyonaria, and Sponges have been mounted for exhibition 

 on Sycamore stands, upon which the names, localities and other particulars have been 

 written ; also the principal part of the study series of Madreporidce, and a series of Fossil 

 Corals have been arranged on tablets in table cases. 



Many specimens oi Polyzoa and Hydruzoa, forming part of the general collection, have 

 been selected and mounted, with a view to the re-arrangement of a study series, and a 

 large proportion of the exhibited collection and the specimens acquired during the year 

 have been cleaned, named and otherwise prepared. 



Some attention has been given to the exhibited series of Foraminifera, labels having 

 been furnished to the d'Orbigny collection of models. The specimens of Orhitolites 

 received from Dr. W. B. Carpenter have been in part exhibited, accompanied by illus- 

 trative plates, the remainder being stored in mahogany cabinets. 



41.73. G 4 The 



