COUNCIL FOR 1840. 11 



the worthy author in whose diligence, accuracy, and fidelity, 

 all who know him will confide. It has been very favourably 

 received by the Botanical World, and the Society may be 

 expected to take much interest in this successful effort of 

 their Officer, since a large part of the accurate information 

 which it contains, regarding the localities of plants, has 

 been derived from the rich Herbarium belonging to the So- 

 ciety, and both the late Curator of Botany and other mem- 

 bers of the Society have taken the liveliest interest in con- 

 tributing to its completeness. Mr. Baines has also been 

 fortunate in obtaining the co-operation of many skilful Bo- 

 tanists, resident in Yorkshire, and the result is a faithful 

 Catalogue of Yorkshire Plants to the number of 1002, be- 

 sides ferns and mosses. 



Among the donations to the Library, the Greenwich Ob- 

 servations for 1835-8, and the Edinburgh Observations Vols. 

 I. and II., presented by the Royal Astronomical Society, 

 should be specially mentioned as an encouragement to a re- 

 gular and systematic use of the Observatory. 



Thus by the continued favour of the public all our prin- 

 cipal collections have been increased, and in some departments 

 these augmentations have now become so great as to render 

 a new disposition of the specimens and the addition of some 

 cases desirable. It has been found possible, without any 

 special provision of new cases, to place in security a great 

 part of these various contributions ; but the library shelves 

 are full ; the time is come for a new disposition of the col- 

 lections in Zoology and Antiquities ; and for the geological 

 museum additional space of drawers and cases is greatly 

 needed, to allow of some further classifications, and the ex- 

 hibition of many specimens which would be found of great 

 interest could they be rendered accessible. The estimated 

 cost of new cases and a complete set of drawers for the 



