518 Zoology. 



Dr. J. E. Gray in 1850, when the Museum Collection contained 

 examples of 38 species. The second edition of the catalogue was 

 issued in 1882, the author being Mr. Boulenger ; 1021 specimens, 

 representing 78 species, were dealt with, numbers which had 

 risen in 1898 to nearly 2000 and 134 respectively. 



In 1862 the collection of Reptiles and Batrachians was stated 

 to consist of about 7000 specimens; of these probably about 

 1800 belonged to the latter class. In 1872 the number had 

 increased to about 18,000, of which 14,000 were Reptiles and 

 4000 Batrachians. In 1896, at the time of its complete re- 

 arrangement, the collection numbered 38,086 specimens, repre- 

 senting 3905 species ; of these specimens 27,275 were Reptiles 

 and 10,811 were Batrachians. At the present day there are 

 about 36,000 Reptiles and 15,000 Batrachians in the British 

 Museum. In 1872, the number of additions during the year was 

 first recorded, and from then to 1881 they averaged about 630 

 specimens for each year, the largest number in any one year 

 being 2540 in 1874, when Colonel Beddome's important collection 

 was acquired. From 1882 to the present day the numbers of 

 Reptiles and Batrachians received have been separately recorded, 

 and have averaged about 800 and 400 respectively in each year. 



Chronological Account of the Principal Accessions to 

 the Collection of Reptiles and Batrachians. 



Prior to 1840 the following important collections were in the 

 possession of the British Museum : — 



The collection of Indian Reptiles made by Dr. Patrick 

 Russell, containing the types of the species described by him in 

 his book, "Indian Serpents," published in 1796. 



A collection presented by Mr. J. Weeks, containing the 

 types of the species described in Shaw's " General Zoology " and 

 "Zoological Miscellany," 1789-1813. 



A series of examples of species described by Messrs. Dumeril 

 and Bibron, presented by the Paris Museum. 



A series presented by M. de Blainville, of the Paris Museum, 

 representing species described by him. 



1841. 



Collections from Australia and the Himalayas were presented 

 by Mr. Gould and Dr. Horsfield respectively. 





