8 REPORT OF THE 



illegible, and such other changes will be introduced as are 

 required by the present state of scientific nomenclature. 



Mr. Clark, of Cincinnati, whose name has so often appeared 

 as a donor to the Society's collections, has this year again con- 

 tributed some beautiful land and fresh-water shells from the 

 district in which he resides : from T. W. Warren, Esq., of 

 Dublin, have been received some rare and choice British shells ; 

 and from H. Peckitt, Esq., a fine pair of the gigantic clam 

 shells (Tridacna gigas), placed in front of the Sub-Curator's 

 house. Other donations to this department will be found 

 enumerated in the catalogue annexed to the Report. 



The Misses Cheap have presented a valuable collection, con- 

 sisting principally of the skulls of the larger carnivora and 

 horns of various species of buffalo, deer, &c. ; and also a small 

 gavial, or Gangetic crocodile, which is distinguished from all 

 its living congeners by the great elongation of its jaws, and 

 the coalescence of the halves of the lower jaw, throughout 

 nearly their entire length. In this peculiarity the gavial 

 agrees with the earliest known fossil crocodiles, those of the 

 lias of Whitby and the oolite of Malton ; while the other 

 forms of living crocodiles are not found in any strata, older 

 than the tertiary. It is thus the only link which connects the 

 forms of ancient periods with those of the present day, and as 

 such will be regarded with peculiar interest. 



The collection of insects and Crustacea has been increased 

 by the donation of some American and Chinese insects from 

 Mr. H. Watson, and a box of foreign insects, including some 

 very singular and rare forms, from Mr. W. Cooper, of York. 

 As the Society's collections, in this branch of natural history, 

 are of necessity not exposed to public view, the Curator thinks 

 it desirable that the members should be reminded that they are 

 valuable and extensive, and that they may, at any time, be 

 inspected, on application to himself, or the Keeper of the 

 Museum. 



Several valuable additions have been made to the Anti- 

 quarian Department of the Museum during the past year. 

 Lord Londesborough has presented to the Society a large 

 portion of a hoard of Roman cohis, discovered in January, 



