South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Tuesday 13 October 1863, page 3


APPENDIX A.

Report of the Curator of the South Australian Institute Museum on the condition and progress of the Museum, for the year ending September 30, 1863.

'To the Board of Governors of the South Aus tralian Institute. ' Gentlemen— In rendering this report I have to observe that it is only within the last six months that efforts have been made to add materially to the Zoological department, and that the principal additions made have been in Ornithology, the funds at present available for museum purposes being too limited to admit of purchases of mam malia. ' AVES.— There are now in the Museum about 200 specimens of birds, nearly all of which are from this colony, and amongst which are many rare birds. A steady and satisfactory pro gress is being made in this department in consequence of an arrangement made with Mr. Gardner, who has an extensive knowledge of the habitats of our birds, and is a skilful taxidermist, and who being now engaged in shooting and stuffing birds is monthly furnishing the Museum, with from 20 to 30 specimens at a very moderate charge. It may now be anticipated that the next annual report will show the Museum to contain an extensive and interesting collection of the birds of this province. "MAMMALIA. — The few stuffed animals at

present in the Museum consist principally of our marsupials, amounting to about a dozen, with a few skins. "PISCES.— There are also about 20 specimens of fishes, among which is a fine tiger shark (Cross.. chus Wallsii), and live species of undescrilbed fish from the interior. "REPITILIA.— These consist of 25 stuffed speci mens, comprising two large undescribed snakes of the boa tribe from the interior, some colonial snakes, a few rare species of lizards, and the cara paces of several species of tortoises. "INSECTA.— The collection of insects contains about 2,000 specimens, being, with very few ex ceptions, coleopterous insects of this province, and a case of butterflies from Queensland. "MOLLUSCA.— The collection of shells amounts to about 1,900 specimens; but it is to be regretted that it is very poor in genera (there not being more than 45): but the value and utility of this collec tion could at any time be greatly increased by adding to the number of types of genera— an addi tion which could be easily made at a small cost. There is a large assortment of duplicates in the Museum, and I would wish to call public attention to the mutual advantage arising out of a system of exchange, "MISCELLANEOUS.— The miscellaneous speci-mens of natural history consist ot a few species of Crustacea, radiata, and about 50 skulls of various animals, birds, and fishes. "MINEROLOGY AND GEOLOGY.— A case of mine-rals and rocks (about 300 in all), with a few speci-mens of polished marbles and some Silurian and other fossils. This collection is the property of the Adelaide Philosophical Society. 'A collection of 105 small specimens of various crystals, metallic ores, &c 'A collection of copper ores from South Africa, presented by His Excellency Sir George Grey; also an interesting collection of the fossil flora of, and the rocks associated with, the coal measures of Lancashire and Yorkshire, presented by William Murray, Esq., CE. 'A series of the rocks and fossils illustrating

the geological formation of. the Newcastle Coal Mine, New South Wales, presented by E. J. F. Crawford, Esq. 'The miscellaneous minerals, &c., consist of various specimens of volcanic aud other rocks from the neighbourhood of Angaston; specimens of the volcanic rocks of Mount Gambier; also those collected during the expeditions of Mr. J. McKinlay antl Mr. J. McDouall Stuart, consisting of varieties of granite, jasper, chalcedony, &c., to which may be added a few specimens of copper ores from some of the mines of this province. "The fossils of this province at present in the Museum are but few, and consist principally of shells from the valley of the Murray and the Adelaide Quarry; also a few from Mount Gam-bier, with some fossil remains of extinct animals from the Far North, and a few shells from the same locality. "WORKS OF ART AND MISCELLANEOUS AR-TICLES.— A collection of coins, medals, &c., pre-sented by William Paxton, Esq. The collection contains about 144 gold and silver coins from Edward III. to the present reign, a few of those of the Saxon and Scotch Kings, 48 various British coins, 5 silver medals, some Roman and Greek silver and copper coins, various foreign and colonial coins, tokens, &c, amounting in all to 670. In addition to the valuable collection of Fijian curiosities presented by William Owen, Esq. men-tioned in a former report there are several models, some fine medals, many specimens of the weapons. &c. of the natives of Australia and Africa, and sundry relics of Burke's party brought from the interior by Mr. John McKinlay.

'I desire, on behalf of the Museum, to return thanks to the following ladies ami gentle men who have made donations during the past year, viz.:-The Hon. C. Davies, M.L.C, F. S. Dutton, Esq., M.P.. Rev. Julian E. Woods (Penola), Rev. F. W. Cox, Rev. Dr. Mucke (Tanunda), W. Oldham. Esq.. J.P., W. Wyatt Esq.. AI.D., Mrs. D: Cudmore, Miss Goss (Norwood), Mrs. Cowie, and Alessrs. W. Owen, M. Phillipson, J. McKinlay, J. Moorhouse, C. Draper. — Withers, — Bathurst (Gawler), H. Perry, E. Hallock. A. Abrahams, G. Isaacs, — Anthony, A. Cooke (Lacepede Bay), J. Gardner (Gawler), A. Gouce, J. W. Coulthard, S. Clark, J. Marsden, G. W. Francis, T. M. McCalman, J. Sprode, K. Vosz, — Vale, R. Nairne (Kapunda), J. Robin, J. Jackson, W. S. Peter (New Zealand), H.. Muir head, C. McCarthy, J. Schomburgk, — Warriner, C. Watson (Golden Grove), C. H. Compton, and the Director of the Botanic Garden, who from time to time has forwarded for preservation various birds and animals. . 'I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen, 'Your most obedient servant, "FRED. GEO. WATERHHOUSE, Curator.'