3

H.—22

Ayes. —The most interesting additions to this section are—a pure " albino "of the common woodpigeon (Carpophaga nova zelandice), obtained in the Wairarapa District; the New Zealand snipe (Gallinago aucklandica) ; and specimens of the "flightless duck" {Nesonetta aucMandica) and the megansur {Mergus australis), from the Auckland Islands. Pisces. —A considerable collection has been sent to the Hon. W. Macleay, Sydney, in exchange for a series of Australian fishes received last year. Additions have also been made to the stock of New Zealand fishes in hand, so that exchanges may be effected as opportunities offer. The most interesting additions to the Museum collection are— Chironemusfergusoni, Wellington Harbour; JSrichthys nitidus, from the Brothers Eocks ; Sphyreena obtusata, Atherina pinguis, and Atypus strigalus, from Island Bay ; a collection of about eighty specimens illustrating the ichthyology of Japan, presented by the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse; and a valuable series from Melbourne, obtained by Dr. Hector. Invertebrata.— Collections of mollusca, polyzoa, Crustacea, and annelids, made in the neighbour, hood of Wellington by members of the department, and a number of Australian mollusca from Mr. T. F. Bailey, of Melbourne, have added considerably to the very large series already existing in the Museum. Ethnological. —A collection of Fijian articles, consisting chiefly of mats, baskets, &c, has been secured for the Museum through the kindness of Mr. T. Vickery, the Executive Commissioner for Fiji at the Sydney Exhibition. A pouralca and a hinaki, Maori fishing-nets, received from Mr. Henry Tryon, of Taupo, are the chief items under this head. Sydney Exhibition. An extensive series, numbering 2,585 specimens, was selected from the Museum collection for exhibition at Sydney, accompanied by a detailed catalogue, of which the following is an abstract:— Collections illustrating the Geology and Natural History of New Zealand*

(1-82) Palaeozoic Possils (83-389) Lower Mesozoic Possils (390-654) Upper Mesozoic Possils (655-1211) Tertiary Fossils (1212-1420) Eecent Mollusca (1421-1517) Tertiary Corals and Polyzoa (1518-1535) Fossil Vertebrata (1536-1737) Human Period (1738-1941) Fossil Plants (1942-2106) Eocks (2107-2147) Gold Specimens (2148-2391) Minerals (2392-2405) Coals (2400-2424) Crustacea (2425-2476) Phormium Samples (2477-2552) Timbers (2553-2585) Publications, viz. :— Geological Eeports, 1868-79 Museum and Laboratory Eeports, 1867-79 On Phormium Tenax

(2553-2585) Publications— continued Natural History of New Zealand Meteorological Eeports, 1868-79 Transactions of New Zealand Institute, Vols. I. to IX. The Grasses of New Zealand One Hundred Photographic Views of New Zealand Scenery Models made by Dr. Hector— New Zealand Topographical New Zealand Geological Volcanic System of Euapehu and Tongariro Sketches of New Zealand Scenery by W. M. Cooper Casts of Moa Eggs and Other Objects Maps, Plans, and Sections illustrating the Geology and Physical Peatures of New Zealand.

Geological Sttbvey Beanch. A number of important surveys have been made during the past season, the full results of wdiich will appear in the annual volume of Eeports. Owing to my protracted absence from the colony in connection with the Sydney Exhibition, the field-work for the year has chiefly devolved on Messrs. Cox and McKay, certain special reports having been obtained from Mr. W. E. Eowe, who was temporarily employed. Reports have been obtained on the following mines : — Antimony Lodes. Chrome Lodes. Hindon. Ben Nevis. Stony Creek. Dim Mountain. Copper Lodes. Aniseed Valley. Big Bay. Dusky Sound. Auriferous Beefs. Waitahuna. Wairarapa. Aniseed Valley. Longwood Bange. „ „ (Johnston's). Mount Ophir, Collingwood. Boding Biver. Mount Arthur. Dun Mountain. Coal Seams. Paringa Biver. Springfield. Motanau.

* For particulars see New Zealand Handbook and Appendix.