XTbc (Sreville Smgtb Collections. 



In the month of February, of the present year, 

 the Committee reported to the Council that Lady 

 Smyth had presented to the Museum various extensive 

 and valuable Natural History Collections that had been 

 brought together by the late Sir Greville Smyth, as an 

 evidence of the late Sir Greville's, as well as her own, 

 interest in the Museum, and of their desire for its 

 development. It was thereupon unanimously agreed 

 " That the best thanks of the Council be conveyed to 

 Lady Smyth for her munificent gift to the City." The 

 collections in question, which had taken a long time to 

 accumulate, included specimens of the greatest rarity 

 and value, special interest attaching to a perfect 

 example of the egg of the Great Auk, and one of 

 iEpyornis Maximus, also in perfect state. The collec- 

 tions, as a whole, included thousands of birds' eggs, 

 singly and in clutches, from nearly all parts of the 

 world. A large series of the eggs were accompanied 

 by the nests in which they were found. These exhibit 

 every form and mode of nest construction, from that of 

 the tiny humming bird to that of the magpie. 



There was also an extensive collection of birds' skins 

 from all parts, and of every size, form, and colour. Also 

 a magnificent collection of the Lepidoptera (Butterflies 

 and Moths) of India, Ceylon, South America, Southern 

 Europe, etc, and a very complete collection of British 

 species. To these were added a fine collection of 

 Exotic Coleoptera (Beetles), a choice series of shells, a 

 number of stuffed animals, and various miscellaneous 

 specimens. 



In order to form some idea of the nature and extent 

 of this gift, the Curator carried out a preliminary 

 arrangement of the specimens, and upon counting 



