Recent Acquisitions at the British Museum (Natural History)

Abstract

THE Trustees have purchased for the Department of Zoology an exceptionally fine African elephant tusk, weighing about 214 lb. This tusk is one of a pair which belonged to a very old elephant killed by an Arab in the Kilimanjaro district many years ago. The other tusk was purchased for the Museum in 1901. The pair are thus now together again. These are the heaviest tusks known. A collection made by Mr. F. Shaw Mayer consisting of 170 mammals from New Guinea, also acquired by purchase, contains many rare specimens and probably some new forms. The most conspicuous animal included is a tree-kangaroo of the genus Dendrolagus (probably Dendro-lagus burgersi). This animal is bright chestnut-red in colour with light yellow markings. Mr. R. E. Moreau, the secretary and librarian of the East African Agricultural Research Station at Amani, which is situated at an elevation of about 5,000 ft. in the Usambara Mountains, Tanganyika Territory, has made for the Museum during the past five years a valuable collection of birds consisting of some 813 skins. Their value is further enhanced by their being accompanied by many field notes and observations on the nesting and other habits of the birds. A valuable collection of Thysanoptera, or thrips, comprising more than 43,000 specimens, has recently been acquired for the Department of Entomology from Dr. Oscar John. This makes the national collection of Thysanoptera one of the most comprehensive in existence. Further specimens of transparent pale yellowish silica glass, the largest piece weighing 2,279 gm., from the Libyan Desert, has been presented to the Department of Minerals by the Director of the Survey of Egypt.