XVI PROCEEDINGS 



scientists keenly enquiring into the nature of their environ- 

 ment. Nature study cannot be commenced at too early an 

 age. This has ever been kept in view in describing the 

 specimens with a minimum of unessential detail while em- 

 phasizing correlation and encouraging accurate observation 

 and inference. The collecting habit should be early en- 

 couraged as it teaches in a pleasant way order, neatness 

 and classification, which later in life is of great value in 

 increasing general and business efficiency. 



As regards acquisitions during the year the Museum 

 Collector has made a useful addition to the natural history 

 of China, including the preparation of articulated skeletons 

 of a snake, a porpoise, a heron and an eagle. The list of 

 presentations shows that the Museum has many friends who 

 have confidence that their gifts will be properly cared for. 



As the Museum has many specimens of the Giant 

 Salamander (Cryptobranchus Japonicus), some of which have 

 been kept alive under observation for long periods, it may 

 be here recorded that, although previously described as 

 inhabiting mountain streams in China and Japan, the species 

 seems to have found in Shanghai a comfortable home in the 

 silt below the Garden Bridge. It is also found in the fresh 

 water creeks of other parts of the Yangtse Delta. It is 

 interesting as being, like the Chinese Alligator, a species 

 rapidly becoming extinct. 



MUSEUM ACQUISITIONS. 

 From June 1, 1919, to May 31, 1920. 



Presented by 



Lepidoptera collected at sea. Capt. H. E. Laver 



Lycodon rufozonatus (juv.) Querquedula circia. M. 0. Springfield, 



Esq. 

 3 Ancistrodon blomhoffii, 5 Lycodon rufozonatus, 



Calamaria septentrionalis, Coluber phyllophis. H. FitzGeorge, Esq. 



Maritime deposits from submarine cable, including 



Crustacea, crinoidea, coelenterata and mollusca. J. P. Christiansen, 



Ursus tibetanus, Tree civet, Python reticulatus, 



Hydrus platurus and Eumeces sinensis. C. Talbot Bowring, 



Esq. 



ing, 

 Esq. 



Coluber taeniurus from rigging of ship. Dr. Patrick 



Lycodon rufozonatus. A. Oliver, Esq. 



Callophis macclellandii. J. D. La Touche, 



Esq. 

 Clutch of eggs of Coluber taeniurus. Dr. Stanley 



Two fossil crabs. • H. E. Thompson, 



Esq. 



