Mineralogy, Geology, and Palaeontology. 



The value of the geological collections, great though it 

 has been for many years, has been considerably increased by 

 the inclusion of the " Chaning Pearce " Collection. This 

 collection includes many of the finest fossils known from the 

 Great Oolite, Bradford Clay, and Forest Marble of the West 

 of England, in addition to various types. 



Formed in the early days of geology, at the time when 

 the chief treasures of the Bristol Museum were being acquired, 

 it was made use of by Mantell in his " Medals of Creation," 

 by Miiller, Thos. Austin, John Morris, Dean Buckland, Dean 

 Conybeare, Prof. Phillips, Prof. Tennant, Sowerby, Parkinson, 

 Rupert Jones, and many others, a striking testimony to its 

 value and usefulness. The combination of this collection 

 with that of the Museum makes the whole the most complete 

 and valuable series of West of England fossils it will ever be 

 possible to bring together. As soon as it became known that 

 the collection was a desirable one for the City Museum, Miss 

 J. Stancomb Wills and her sister, Mrs. Richardson, intimated 

 their readiness to contribute the sum of £500 towards the cost 

 of purchase, and with their generous aid the collection was 

 obtained. 



What is now urgently wanted to place the geological 

 collection upon the highest plane of efficiency is an entire 

 replacement of the old cases by others of a modern type, in 

 which an exhibition series of the first order can be assembled, 

 and a teaching collection for students brought into being. 



We are hopeful that amongst the many generous donors 

 to the Museum and Art Gallery, will be found someone who 

 will enable this department to rise to the height of its tradi- 

 tions, and exhibit its treasures worthily. 



For over two and a half years the Committee have had 

 under construction a large relief-model of Bristol and district. 

 This has now been delivered. It is 9 ft. 3 ins. long and 6 ft. 



