PROCEEDINGS OF PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. 99 



formation of a Natural History Society in Manchester: supine of 

 the inhabitants of that large and populous town had long contem- 

 plated having an additional institution to the one already proceed- 

 ing so successfully under the auspices of Dalton — some society 

 where collections of all the rich and varied objects of creation should 

 be brought together ; where, even in the centre of a commercial 

 town, the admirer of Nature might study the beauties of the inha- 

 bitants of woods and wilds — might at once transport his thoughts 

 from the busy scene of bustle and turmoil with which he was sur- 

 rounded, and for a time revel amidst the productions of distant climes. 



An opportunity at length offered itself for carrying this design 

 into effect : in 1821, a collection of birds and insects — the former 

 comprising many rare and valuable specimens — were offered for sale ; 

 a small body of spirited individuals met and agreed to purchase 

 them, and these specimens became the nucleus around which were to 

 accumulate the now splendid collections of the Manchester Natural 

 History Society. The insects had been collected some time previous 

 by Lee Phillips, Esq., and at that period, when collections of natu- 

 ral objects were more rarely formed, exhibited a valuable assem- 

 blage both of foreign and British specimens. The most complete 

 department was that of British Lepidoptera, which, even at the 

 present time, is highly valuable. Amongst the birds were many of 

 considerable interest, especially some rare specimens of MyotherincE. 

 The greater part were collected by M. Freyreiss, who was employed 

 by a society of Vienna to collect specimens in South America, 

 where he staid some years. After his employers were supplied with 

 the more valuable results of his labours, some of the duplicates 

 came into the possession of the late Mr. Robinson, from whose 

 friends, on his decease, they were bought by the gentlemen who 

 thus first commenced the Manchester Natural History Society. 

 This purchase being made, it was necessary to adopt some measures 

 for the preservation of the collection, and to endeavour, as soon as 

 possible, to obtain additional contributions. A room was taken in 

 Cross-street, St. Ann's Square, and Mr. T. Harrop was appointed 

 to take charge of the specimens, and stuff such birds or other ani- 

 mals as were sent in. 



No addition of great importance was made until the latter part 

 of 1822, when the collection of minerals belonging to Mr. Strutt, 

 of Derby, was purchased ; at once filling up, to a certain extent, a 

 department of the highest importance, and one in which the Society 

 w^as very deficient. This collection being obtained, the museum 

 took at once a higher rank. The visitors were gratified by the in- 

 terest they found in the specimens, the increased variety affording 

 a more ample field for study and contemplation. 



A gradual accession of specimens was made during the years 

 1823 and J 824, especially in the department of foreign Ornitholo- 

 gy, which rapidly increased. The proximity of Manchester lo Li- 

 verpool, where ships were daily arriving from all quarters of the 

 globe, bringing with them specimens and illustrations of every de- 



