ACCOUNTS, ikC.j OF THE BRITISH WUSEL13I. 57 



the specimens have been in the Museum for more than half" a century. It comprises 9,803 

 specimens, nearly all of" which are preserved in spirits, and which are referable to 1,206 

 species, out of a total number of 1,617 species which are at present known to exist on the 

 globe. Forty years ago when the first edition of the " Catalogue of Lizards " was pub- 

 lished, the Museum possessed 471 species represented by 1,489 examples. 



The improvements in the arrangement of the Shell Gallery consist in the addition of" 

 four table-cases for the purpose of exhibiting a series of eggs, egg-cases and opercula of 

 mollusca, a collection of pearls and pearl-producing shells, a series of polished specimens, 

 and another illustrating the art of cameo-carving. In the labels many alterations have 

 been made, more especially Avith regard to the generic names, in accoi dance with the 

 nomenclature which is in general use at present. 



The arrangement of the Insect Gallery has been completed, as far as the material at 

 disposal permitted. In the study-series of insects, the incorporation of the "Zeller" 

 collection has been continued ; and a considerable portion of the Neuroptera has been 

 rearranged. 



The addition of two wall-cases to the Starfish Gallery has been the means of exhibiting 

 now for the first time a typical series of worms. Specimens, pictures and models 

 illustrating the structure and life-history of such important parasites as the tape-worm, 

 liver-fluke and Trichina have been prepared and mounted ; with these there have been 

 placed for comparison other Cestoda, Trematoda and Nematoda ; specimens and figures 

 illustrating the characters of all the other great divisions of the Vermes have also been 

 mounted and arranged for exhibition. The " Challenger " collections of Polychaeta and 

 of Holothurians have been incorporated with the study-series, which, in consequence, had 

 to be wholly rearranged. 



The greater part of the wall-cases in the Coral Gallery have been provided with large 

 group-labels ; the arrangement of the Madreporaria and Alcyonaria has been continued. 

 Many specimens of Hydrozoa and Polyzoa have been examined, and some of them 

 identified. 



The arrangement of the British Room has been completed so far as material at disposal 

 permitted, and the deficiencies are gradually being supplied as occasion offers. 



II. — R egistra tion. 



All the specimens obtained during the year have been marked with the date of their 

 acquisition, and a separate number corresponding with an entry in the manuscript registers 

 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 information rciiarding them, are entered. The registration of the large acces- 

 sions to the collection of Birds has been proceeded with. Of the Hume Collection 30,000 

 specimens have now been registered, believed to be equal to nearly half of the whole 

 collection. 



III. — Conservation. 



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

 rotation the exhibited specimens of Mammalia and Birds ; placing the registered Birds- 

 skins, and Mollusca and Sponges in glass-topped boxes ; renewing the camphor in the 

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



The further efforts which have been made during the past year to moderate the dryness 

 of the temperature of the rooms in the basement have been successful, the damage done 

 to the cabinets having been comparatively trifling. 



The following specimens have been mounted for exhibition : — Two stuffed Cape 

 Buffaloes {Bubalus caffer), two Lichtenstein's Hartebeests ( A Icelaphus lichtenstchii'i), adult 

 and young Californian Seal (PAoc«/)fa/ez), two Caucasian Wild Goats {Capra caucasica), 

 an Aelian's Wart-hog {Phacochcerus celiani) ; a male Sea-lion (Otariajiiba(a) ; four heads 

 of the Ooi-ial ( Ovis cychccros), a head of the Afghan Ibex ( Capra sibirica). Also skeletons 

 of a female Killer {Orca gladiator), and an adult JSeubalcena marginata from New 

 Zealand, one of the most remarkable types of the order Cetacea. 



The additions to the Bird Gallery were : — ?i. number of varieties of the domestic 

 Pigeon, a specimen of Ross' Sea-gull, and a group of the two species of Argus 

 Pheasant; to the series illustrating the nesting habits of British birds: Robin, Sedge 

 Warbler, Tree Pipit, Tree-creeper, Scoter, Widgeon, Black-throated Diver, Manx 

 Shearwater, Oyster-catcher, and Heron. 



The dried Echinoderms exhibited in the table-cases have been transferred to clean 

 tablets, and the written names replaced by printed labels. 



A number of Stony Corals have been cleaned, prepared, and, where necessary, mended. 



185. H lY .—Duplicates. 



