14 T. W. E. DAVID. 
as fertilizers. This work has been commenced and a preliminary 
batch of results will shortly be ready for publication. 
Australian Museum.—During the past year little or no original 
research was conducted, but work was confined almost exclusively 
to a general renovation of existing collections, a weeding out of 
old specimens and duplicates, and their replacement by better, 
and previously unexhibited examples. By this means the whole 
of the Mammalia (skins) were reclassified, so far as the limited 
space available for this important class would allow, and it is 
much to be regretted that curtailment of an undoubtedly fine 
series was found necessary. 
Amongst the Birds, the Australian Psittaci were rearranged, 
and the Nest-group collection freely added to. 
Owing to the discovery of the ‘ White-ant” early in the year 
in that portion of the roof surmounting the Fish and Reptile 
Gallery, necessitating the entire removal of the collections, little 
work was attempted in these classes, with the exception of the 
preparation of additional models of snakes. 
In the Invertebrata, and Minerals, work was confined to 
amplifying the newly arranged specimens. The space assigned to 
the Invertebrata after the late extension of the building is now 
found to be quite inadequate, and as in the case of the Mammalia 
only trivial additions can in the future be made to this section. 
In the Ethnological portion of the Museum good work was 
accomplished by the first attempt at a systematic arrangement of 
the Australian Stone-weapons and Implements, and general manu- 
factures of the Aborigines, together with a very fine set of carved 
tree trunks. Cases of North and South American Prehistoric 
Pottery were also arranged. The Australasian Invertebrate 
Fossils were wholly reprepared and systematically arranged in the 
new cases prepared for their reception. 
Board of Health—Laboratory.—This laboratory was definitely 
instituted by the Board in February, 1895. Its purpose is the in- 
vestigation of disease in man, and of those diseases of the lower 
PSI ae Pee mS ORL EE ST SO sR ee el Lal RE ae aE Le TPO EEN po eC na ON eee eae he gees HA See PRE Te og gM gy Me ee RR ae he ct gh ne, NES ee OER FO Cia te ary Nae oa ee 
