10 REPORT OF THE 



Some additions of great interest have been made to the 

 collection of British Mollusca, through the British Natural 

 History Society ; of these the most important are the Egg- 

 capsules containing young of the rare Shells, Fusus Turtonis 

 and Fusus Norvegicus, the possession of which illustrates an 

 important fact in the Natural History of the Mollusca, namely, 

 that species which present a very near approximation in the 

 characters of the animal and shell may yet shew essential 

 diiferences in the structure of the ova ; and hence it would seem 

 that a better acquaintance with the ova of the MoUusca may 

 render important aid to the Naturalist in the determination of 

 problems relating to the discrimination between species and 

 varieties, in the numerous forms of this important division of the 

 animal kingdom. Through the same channel a fine example of 

 a very rare shell, Natica pusilla, from Staithes fishing boats, has 

 been added to the collection, and a specimen of Emarginula 

 crassa from Anglesea. In British Zoophytes the Society is 

 indebted to Mr. Leckenby, of Scarbro', for a series of choice 

 specimens of some of the rare species from the Coast. 



The Council regret that the ofiice of Curator of Botany still 

 remains vacant ; but they trust that before long some member 

 of the Society will undertake the charge of this important part 

 of its Collections. A Supplement to the " Flora of Yorkshire," 

 by the Sub-Curator of the Museum, has lately been published. 

 The materials have been chiefly furnished to Mr. Baines by 

 two able co-adjutors, Mr. John Gilbert Baker and Mr. Nowell, 

 the former of whom has contributed an account of the Flowering 

 Plants and Ferns, and the latter of the Mosses. The HepaticEe, 

 Lichens, Algso and Fungi of the county have not yet been 

 sufficiently studied to enable the botanist to exhibit a catalogue 

 of them ; but, as far as it goes, the " Flora of Yorkshire" may be 

 received with confidence, as a full and exact enumeration of 

 the productions of this varied and extensive district. To Mr. 

 Baker the Society is indebted for arranging its British Lichens 

 in a form which at once facilitates the use and displays the 

 beauty of the Collection. 



Of the additions which have been made during the last year 

 to the Antiquarian department of the Museum, the most 



