KEPORT OF 



attachment to the pursuits of natural science ; but also as 

 exciting and confirming the hope that the Institution will con- 

 tinue to be an object of very general and lively interest, and 

 that it will not fail to receive, so long as it shall continue 

 to merit, the patronage that shall carry it through those tem- 

 porary difficulties to which all human schemes are un- 

 avoidably exposed, and enable it to be as eminently and 

 extensively useful as the most enhghtened and benevolent 

 mind can desire. 



The Council have the satisfaction of announcing that the 

 Committees appointed for promoting special researches in 

 science, as stated in the last Annual Report, have entered on 

 active labours, some of which have already produced valuable 

 results ; and have formed arrangements for farther progress 

 and extensive co-operation. 



The Donations, though less numerous than in some former 

 years, include many contributions of remarkable interest and 

 value, to almost every department of the Museum ; and 

 several volumes of scientific and antiquarian research, which 

 greatly enrich the growing Library of the Institution. 



The collection of Fossil Organic Remains has been 

 increased by several acquisitions which derive a peculiar value 

 from the circumstance that they fill up some of those vacancies 

 which must necessarily occur in the illustration of so vast a 

 subject, by the contributions of independent observers. One 

 of the most important of these specimens, which the discoveries 

 of the year have brought to aid the general deductions of 

 Geology, is the Badger from the Crag of Suffolk, presented by 

 the Rev. Stephen Croft. The true history and relative date 

 of that remarkable deposit will probably require for some time 

 to come a very diligent examination ; but it must be admitted 

 that the occurrence in it of such an animal as the Badger 



