46 Transactions of the 



which they favoured us, and from them we must of course extract 

 largely. 



'On Saturday,' says the Daily Post of the 19th June, 'an 

 event took place at Clifton College which will doubtless inaugu- 

 rate a new era in the history of this important and flourishing 

 institution — namely, the opening of a repository for natural and 

 scientific objects. The idea of establishing a Museum originated 

 with a society in connection with the College, called the 'Clifton 

 College Scientific Society,' which was founded in the middle of 

 the year 1869. Starting with the insignificant roll of eighteen 

 members, the association has grown until it now numbers about 

 seventy ordinary members, in addition to a fair proportion of 

 honorary associates ; and it has corresponding members both at 

 Oxford and Cambridge. Some valuable observations having been 

 thrown out in the way of collecting for a Museum by Canon 

 Kingsley, who delivered the inaugural address to the society, the 

 matter of a School Museum was taken up with considerable energy 

 by gentlemen connected with the College, who knew what an 

 important influence the study of natural history was calculated to 

 work. It was decided that the Museum should be essentially a 

 British one, illustrating the natural history and antiquities of our 

 land by good specimens arranged under the departments of 

 zoology, botany, geology, mineralogy, and archjeology. An appeal 

 by the committee in quarters where it was likely to be eSectual 

 has resulted in the accumulation of a considerable number of 

 useful specimens, as well as a good round sum to meet the 

 expenses entailed by the fitting-up, and to purchase sjiecimens 

 not likely to be procurable from private donors. The project was 

 heartily concurred in by the head-master of the College, the Rev. 

 Prebendary Percival, who erected at his own expense and pre- 

 sented to the College an extensive building, intended for a Library 

 and Museum. It is a well-lighted apartment in the Early English 

 style, 60 feet by 23 feet, and situated on the first, floor. It com- 

 prises five bays, the lower one being at present used as the 

 secretary's office. The book cases are fitted in between the 

 windows, so as to form a series of recesses annexed to the win- 

 dows of the room, with a table in each for study. The library is 

 already well-stocked, and contains some 1300 valuable volumes, 

 comprising works of standard authors. The architecture of the 

 Library and Museum is in character with the rest of the College 

 building, the roof being open-timbered, of ornamental construc- 

 tion, with hammer beams, resting on wooden columns. The 

 museum cases are arranged down the centre of the room. The 

 specimens grouped in them, though not extensive, are valuable, 



