of science, and the confined and ill-contrived construc- 

 tion of the cases — the latter defect being in a great 

 measure the cause of the former. So serious has been 

 the want of space, that it has been necessary to place 

 many important and valuable donations in boxes and 

 drawers out of sight, there not being room to exhibit 

 them in a suitable manner. This, as might have been 

 expected, has acted in a most prejudicial manner : not 

 only has it detracted much from the interest of the 

 Museum, but it has prevented a repetition of presents, 

 donors not choosing to transmit specimens to be placed 

 out of sight in inaccessible places, where, however safe 

 they may be so far as their preservation is concerned, 

 they are quite valueless to the scientific visiter and to the 

 inquiring student. 



To remedy these defects had long been anxiously 

 desired, but, until the present time, the want of the 

 necessary funds has proved an insuperable barrier. 

 During the past winter a Committee was formed by the 

 Council of this Society, in conjunction with several other 

 gentlemen, to ascertain if it were possible to raise a large 

 and commodious public building on a grand scale, in 

 which the Society might be furnished with increased 

 accommodation : after various meetings, it being found 

 that sufficient encouragement was not given to justify a 

 hope that the plan would be carried into effect, it has 

 been finally abandoned. 



