THK COUNCIL. 5 



Some valuable epiphytic orchideae have been given by Mr. 

 S. Stutchbury, of the Bristol Institution, and a tree fern from 

 Van Diemen's Land, by Mr. Backhouse. The contributions 

 in Entomology, by Mr. Meynell and others will, the Council 

 hopes, be soon rendered available in appropriate cabinets : for 

 these, though absolutely required, have not yet been con- 

 structed ; the cost of preparing several hundred birds, and 

 other expenses connected with the Museum, having compelled 

 the Council to postpone all further disbursements. 



The LiBUARY has been chosen as the place to receive one 

 of the most gratifying of all the donations which has ever 

 been made to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, the bust 

 of its first President and constant benefactor — executed by 

 the hands of Chantrey at the request of a very large propor- 

 tion of the Members of the Society, who, in a public meeting, 

 resolved by this beautiful work of art, fixed in the Yorkshire 

 Museum, to perpetuate the memory of the services rendered 

 to the Institution by the Rev. W. Vernon Harcourt. The 

 volumes which Mr. Priestley has enriched by his laborious 

 inquiries into the etymology of the obscure dialects of Craven 

 are too closely connected with the ancient history of Yorkshire 

 to be received with indifference ; and the copy of Observations 

 made at Paramatta, presented by the Royal Astronomical 

 Society, though of a character far beyond the present power 

 of our useful observatory, may yet, from the peculiar circum- 

 stances which gave them birth, encourage a hope that the 

 taste now rising amongst us, for the cultivation of physical 

 science, may in some future day be furnished with greater 

 means of exertion. 



The solar eclipse of May, 1836, was observed with care 



by one party of our Members at home, and by another who 



proceeded to view its annularity at Durham ; some data have 



thus and by other means been collected for the determination 



b3 



