THE COUNCIL. 7 



shew the continuous similarity of this portion of the ancient 

 Flora. 



In Fossil Botany also, the transparent sections* which 

 have been no less beautifully executed than ingeniously 

 devised, to illustrate such analogies or differences as can 

 be perceived in the structure of primeval and existing 

 vegetation, are well worthy the attention of the Meeting. 

 And in the comparative anatomy of fossils, a valuable 

 accession has accrued to the display of an extinct race 

 of animals by whom the earth was inhabited at some remote 

 and as yet undetermined era, in the head and horns of the 

 gigantic Irish Elk.* 



The Council, in concluding their remarks upon the 

 geological contributions, cannot pass over in silence the last 

 donation to this Museum from one who had in it a paternal 

 interest. — Mr. Thorpe was among the first three founders of 

 the original collection ; he was one of those whose liberal 

 spirit planted the germ which has since produced such 

 abundant fruit in the now extensive geological treasures of 

 this Society ; and his name deserves to stand upon its records 

 as that of a man who, when the interest of the extraordinary 

 discoveries at Kirkdale was at its height, in giving his own 

 collection of those rare remains, saw and embraced the proper 

 moment for effecting by a personal sacrifice an important 

 public object. 



Presented by H. Witham, Esq. with his work explanatory of the subject. 

 * Presented by F. H. Fawkes, Esq. 



