COUNCIL FOR 1854, 9 



occurrence of the remains of Mammalia in the Oolitic strata at 

 Stonesfield, a subject of special interest to the members of this 

 Society, from the circumstance that a fossil in our Museum, 

 obtained from those strata,* occupies so prominent a place in a 

 controversy upon this subject made famous by its association 

 with the names of Owen, Agassiz, De Blainville, and other dis- 

 tinguished authorities in the field of Palseontological science. 



In the Zoological department of the Museum, the Council 

 have again to notice the continued interest in the prosperity of 

 the Society taken by Mr. Clark of Cincinnati. The suite of 

 North American Shells due to the liberality of Mr. Clark, now 

 forms one of the most beautiful and prominent features of the 

 Museum, and the value of the collection has been greatly 

 enhanced by a manuscript catalogue stating the localities and 

 other information, which Mr. Clark has drawn up at the 

 suggestion of the Keeper of the Museum. 



The Society is indebted to the same benefactor for the addition 

 to our Ichthyological collection of a very remarkable Fish, of 

 which but few examples have reached this Country, the 

 Polyodon folium of Lacepede, commonly known in America as 

 the " Paddle-fish" or " Spoon-bill Sturgeon." Mr. Clark has 

 also presented two very choice specimens of the Lepidosteus 

 or Gar-fish, of the American rivers, a species less rare than the 

 Polyodon, but nevertheless a particularly acceptable acquisition 

 to the Society, the Lepidostei being almost the only existing 

 Fishes furnished with resplendent enamelled scales, a structure 

 constantly met with among Fossil Species and well exemplified 

 by the Lepidotus, &c., of the Whitby Lias. 



Two very valuable local additions have been made to the 

 collection of British Birds, namely, a little Bustard, shot at 

 Goodmanham, and presented by the Rev. "VVm. Blow, jun., and 

 a specimen of Bewick's Swan, shot at Bubwith, mounted at the 

 expense of the Naturalists' Club, and presented by the Com- 

 mittee. A fine example of the Crowned Crane has been given 

 to the Foreign Collection of Birds by H. S. Thompson, Esq., of 

 Moat Hall. 



♦ Exhibited in Case No. 25 of the Geological room, and lahcUed " Fossil jaw of 

 Quadruped from Stonesfield, presented by the Rey. C. Sykes." 



