E.—7.

53

tacea, mostly common aquatic and terrestial Amphipoda and Tsopoda ; several Myriapods and spiders, including the tubes formed by one of our trap-door spiders, ArbanUu gMiesX. The mollusca received about two dozen new species, many rare and new to science, presented to the Museum by Mr. Suter, as well as the interesting Xenophora paUidida, whose spiral shell is partially concealed from its enemies by the attachment by the owner of fragments of other shells, &c. Two corals were placed in the case, one of which, a hydrocoralline (Labiopora), from Preservation Inlet, has not been recorded since its description by Gray in 1872, from a specimen collected during Ross's voyage to the antarctic regions. Of Echinoderms I was able to add five species, of which three are new to science, the result of my examination of the material obtained during the " Nora Niven " expedition. The additions to the general zoology section are of less importance. The lama, received a year or Iwo ago, has been set up in a very lifelike attitude ; a box-tortoise (Cistudo) and a soft-shelled tortoise (Trionyx), skulls of lemur and a mole, stuffed rat and weasel, and a few other specimens. The dentil ion series has been increased by a skull of the pig, with bone removed to show the series of teeth, complete sets of human teeth, the milk and permanent, are useful to the dental students. The pateontological department now contains a set of models of the shells of Brachiopods, showing the arm-loop, so difficult for students to grasp, so important from a systematic point of view. A set of casts of fossil fruits and flowers of Carboniferous plants, though not in the public portion of the Museum, are in the laboratory for illustration of the lectures on the subject. A series of fossil Cephalopods has been placed in the cases. No novelties have been placed on exhibition in the department of ethnology, owing to lack of cases. Work of the Taxidermist. The enumeration, even if given in detail, of the numerous specimens added to the collection would fail to indicate the amount of work performed by the taxidermist. Every specimen mounted needs a greater or less amount of thought as to the way in which it shall be displayed so as to exhibit its characters in the best manner. Dexterous manipulation is required so as to carry this idea out, and it is often necessary to make a number of trials before the specimen is mounted to our satisfaction ; the whole work demands patience, skill, and a keen eye for effect, I think any one who will look at the native insects and other animals mounted in alcohol will admit that they reflect the greatest credit on the taxidermist. One of the most noticeable additions to the foreign zoological series is the stuffed lama, the domesticated variety of the huanaco, of Peru. Many people suppose it is a simple thing to stuff and mount a bird or mammal ; let them compare the work in our Museum with the specimens seen in private houses, and they should be able to note the vast superiority of the work of a skilled taxidermist over that of an amateur. Take this lama for example : Before it was skinned Mr. Jennings took various careful measurements for his guidance at a later stage of the work. When the skin has been cured, a " mannikin," or wooden frame, roughly representing the body, is made ; iron supports of a suitable length must be bent at the proper angle to form the axis round which the legs will be built. The skin has then to be placed in position, and a good deal of tow must be stuffed between it and the wooden mannikin, so as to produce the soft curves of the body, and constant reference has to be made to a photo or good picture of the living animal in order to get the true shape and attitude. It is now that the measurements of girth, length of body, legs and neck, and so on, are used, in order that the creature may retain as far as possible the true" proportions and correct form. All this requires much experience and training, as well as accuracy of eye, deftness of finger, combined with patience and persistence. Again and again, it may be, the pose of neck or bend of leg has to be altered, but the result is well worth the time and labour bestowed upon it, Mr. Jennings has also carried out several pieces of osteological work during the year ; the skeletons of the armadillo and the hyrax have been remounted, and the skull of the young elephant repaired. The exca vat ion of the bones of skulls added to the dental series has required much delicate work. Living TuaUxns. During the year I obtained permission from the Minister in Charge of Internal Affairs to receive three living tuataras for transmission to Professor Sedgwick, of Cambridge. These I kept alive in he Museum for some weeks, and they provoked so much interest that I determined to retain one as a permanency. This unique reptile, confined now to a few islands off the northern part of the Dominion, is an object of constant study to the public. The Reports. The publication and distribution of the annual report, even in the unattractive form of a reprint. from the daily paper, has led to the receipt of valuable exchanges from museums and scientific institutes in various parts of the world, several of which have sent in exchange their scientific publications to the enrichment of the library. I hope that in the near future the Council will permit me to have an illustrated report in a more imposing form prepared for distribution to museums throughout the world. Siiiniiiiirij <ii Acquisitions. («.) New Zealand Zoology.— The register contains 222 entries during the year, which include about 80 species collected by myself during a visit to Stewart Island early in 1908 ; about 30 species of insects collected in the North Island by Mr. R. Browne, a former student of this University ; a large number of specimens presented by members of the teachers' class ; a small collection of moths, flies, and beetles from the Auckland Islands, presented by Mr. G. V. Hudson ; and about two dozen species of rare duup-sua shells from Mr. Suter. Many of these are, of course, duplicates of those already