On 14 August 1877 ownership of the Museum and its collections was transferred to the State by an act of parliament, under the directorship of William Edward Steele and was known as the Museum of Science and Art, Dublin. New funding was provided for a new museum building on Kildare Street, and the collections were expanded to include representative specimens from British expeditions and surveys, various marine stations, British and European biological suppliers and taxidermists. As the new Irish museum was deemed to be on a par with other British institutions, seeing surplus collections and exchanges between the institutions. Specimens of note that were presented to the museum in 1877 was a Giant Irish deer from the Marquess of Bath, and what became recognised as the type of "Rhomaleosaurus cramptoni." Carte died in 1881, and was succeeded by A.G. More with the amended title of Curator rather than Director.