( 487 ) 
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 
Amonc the more important acquisitions to the British Museum by pur- 
chase during the year special mention may be made of the Whitehead 
Collection of Birds and Mammals from the Philippines ; the second instal- 
ment of the Bates Collection of Heteromerous Coleoptera (13,798 speci- 
mens); a fine stuffed Lion from Machako’s, British Kast Africa, shot by 
Mr. S. L. Hinde; the Savin collection of fossil vertebrate remains from 
the Norfolk Forest-bed series of deposits; a series of fossil remains from 
the Oxford Clay of Fletton, selected from the collection of Mr. A. N. Leeds ; 
and a fine set cf specimens of American Paleozoic Bryozoa. 
The number of separate presents reported as having been received 
during the year by the several Departments of the Museum amounted to 
1622, as against 1518 in the preceding year. The following are of special 
interest :—From Messrs. F. Du Cane Godman and Osbert Salvin: Further 
portions of their collection of the Coleoptera of Central America, comprising 
5468 specimens ; the first instalment of their collection of New World 
Lepidoptera of the family Danaine, comprising 486 specimens ; and 2586 
specimens of Heterocerous Lepidoptera of various orders from Central 
America. From Colonel John Biddulph: A fine collection of birds from 
Gilgit, consisting of 3886 skins of nearly 250 species.. From Dr. John 
Anderson, F.R.S.: A large and valuable collection of Reptiles and Batra- 
chians made by him in Egypt and Nubia between the years 1891 and 1895, 
and forming the basis of a large work, which he has now published. From 
Mr. F. C. Selous: An interesting series of South African Mammals, 
including a Springbok, and pairs each of Bontebok, Blesbok, Gnu, and 
Inyala Antelopes. From Mr. 8. L. Hinde, Resident Medical Officer at 
Machako’s, British East Africa: An interesting and valuable series of 
Natural History specimens (chiefly Mammals, Birds, and Insects) collected 
by him in British East Africa, and including specimens of species hitherto 
unrepresented in the Museum Oollection. From Capt. KH. O. Wathem : 
The skeleton and skin of a Gavial (Gavialis gangeticus) from near M uttra, 
in the North-west Provinces of India. From Miss A. M. R. Stevens: A 
very fine specimen of the same reptile from Behar. From the Canadian 
Department of Marine and Fisheries: A stuffed Seal (Phoca grenlandica) 
from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. From Mr. Thorpe, of St. Helena (through 
the Colonial Office): The shell of a large Land Tortoise (Testudo elephan- 
tina), which died at St. Helena about twenty years ago. From the Hon. 
