864 Asiatic Society. [No. 104. 



in the Journal exist, that I can yet discover ; and valuable specimens are fast losing 

 their labels of names, and above all, of localities. In our Geological series I find, 

 amongst others, even those of Gerard, Voysey, and Franklin — the first particularly of 

 unique specimens, collected often at the risk of his life at 16 and 18,000 feet of eleva- 

 tion, midst the snows of the Himalaya, on the frontiers of Chinese Tartary — all going 

 to utter confusion, through the growing indistinctness of the ink, and the ravages of 

 damp and insects. Of the valuable collection of the Lavas of Vesuvius, presented 

 by Sir Edward Ryan, though of this the Catalogue exists, yet only thirty-six out 

 of nearly a hundred specimens can yet be found ; I omit for brevity's sake, further 

 details of this nature. 



" I have then thought it of urgency to confine myself almost wholly to arrest this 

 dilapidation, and if possible, so to place every thing upon record as it now exists, 

 or can be ascertained, that at all events farther mischief in this way may be stopped, 

 and the records rendered as enduring as paint and printing can make them. The 

 Museum book of "Geological collections," sent herewith, will shew what I propose 

 doing for every series ; and I have arranged in Case No. 8, Frame No. 1 (to the right 

 hand below the stair-case) Dr. Gerard's series, in such order, with its separate little 

 book of reference in the case, that it is available for the study of visitors and members, 

 and when the serial catalogue is printed, it will be beyond the reach of any thing 

 but wilful confusion for a long period of years.* I shall be happy to have the opinion 

 of the Committee on this plan of arrangement, and these views. My own feeling and 

 judgment on this point is, that nothing could be more lamentable, and more dis- 

 couraging to the progress of Indian Science, than the fact that collections, which 

 men Kave almost literally laid down their lives to obtain, should thus be lost to their 

 memory, and to the ends of Science. 



" Osteological Department. — In this division the want of cases for preserving the 

 smaller skeletons from the effects of dust and dirt is much felt; and I beg to sub- 

 mit this matter particularly to the attention of the Committee; for several of our 

 skeletons are rare* and valuable, and even a common one costs time and expence to 

 replace, or repair it. The small skeletons are particularly liable to dilapidation when 

 dusting, and from the incautious handling of visitors. 



" Mammalogical Department. — In this again we are entirely without glass-cases, 

 and in spite of daily care, much dilapidation must be going on, which is but too evident 

 in many of the specimens. 



" Ornithological Department. — This and the following department are by far the 

 best preserved of our collections, being fully provided with cases. .^| 



''Reptiles, Fishes, 5fc.— Provided with cases, and generally in excellent preserva-^^ 

 tion. Mostly named, but no catalogues. The spirits of wine having partly evaporated 

 from many of the jars and bottles, it has been necessary to fill them up, which occa- 

 sions some extra expence. I am in hopes of at least diminishing this evil in future, 



* Five series in all, are arranged, comprising 293 specimens, but only one is placed in a case 

 for inspection. 



