Museum, in the course of the last year. At the Iiead of the 

 list of donations received since the last Annual Meeting, 

 stands the splendid gift, presented by John Blayds, Esq. 

 of the Mummy of an Egyptian Priest, in high preservation, 

 and in every respect an excellent specimen of that wonderful 

 art, which, though itself extinct, has conferred a species of 

 immortality on the only perishable part of human nature. 



The limits of your Report preclude a particiUar detail 

 of many other valuable presents already inserted in the 

 catalogue of donations, which respectively claim your grate- 

 ful acknowledgments. Reviewing the sources from which 

 your Museum has received its principal support, you will 

 perceive that it has been formed chiefly by the liberality of its 

 own members and their connections, and of occasional visitors. 

 With some few exceptions, it has derived little assistance 

 from the patronage of rank or power, by whose fostering 

 influence many similar institutions have been nurtured into 

 splendour and importance. You are referred to this circum- 

 stance as a fact highly honourable to the promoters of the 

 Society, and a powerfrd incentive to the continued exertions 

 of those who feel a local interest in its prosperity. Your 

 collection has been formed almost entirely by gratui- 

 tous contributions. An opportunity, however, occurred some 

 months ago, by which a small grant out of the Society's 

 funds enabled the Curator to enrich it by a valuable addi- 

 tion of 340 subjects, consisting of 100 Fishes, 60 Crustaceae, 

 50 Molluscae, collected chiefly on the shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean. By this accession, several important connecting 

 links in yoiur collection have been supplied. 



A considerable expense has been incurred in providing 

 additional cases necessary to the purposes of that improved 

 classification which it has been attempted to introduce, and 

 which, imperfect as it must be confessed to be, is almost as 

 complete as is attainable in the present apartment. 



In reference to the scientific and literary proceedings of 

 the Session elapsed, your Council confidently hope they will 



