55 



but mention must be made of a superb block containing blue topazes of 

 great size, in connection with smoky quartz crystals and mica (an 

 extremely valuable and unique specimen), a huge block of small crystals 

 of pale yellow topazes (from Siberia), and an enormous dark amber crystal 

 of the same class of stone, of great value ; beryls of rich quality ; opals of 

 the choicest character, in their native state, from different parts of the 

 world ; Labradorite and Amazon stone ; emeralds of great size and depth 

 of colour ; and crystals of quartz containing acicularrutile in fine variety. 

 Of special interest, particularly to those members who recently visited 

 Elbolton Cave, near Skipton, also is a beautiful polished slab of calcite 

 from Mexico, of a rich brown colour, presented to Mr. Ruskin by 

 Mr. Hewetson, a stalagmitic product somewhat resembling onyx in its 

 form, with the " core " admirably displayed. In the same room is placed 

 a splendid specimen of the peacock, also presented and stuffed by 

 that gentleman. The large room containing the pictures was next visited 

 which includes St. Mark's, Venice, by John Bunny ; and many perfect 

 drawings of architectural detail and street architecture, besides beautiful 

 copies in water-colour of works by the Italian masters, all commissioned 

 by the founder of the museum, and in some instances his own handiwork 

 cover the walls. 



The library was next visited, and, although not yet open to the public, 

 the visitors were admitted to a private view of some of the treasures in 

 this department of the collection. Manuscripts of early Visigothic and 

 later centuries, missals, illuminated Bibles, &c., form a valuable part of 

 the contents of this room ; while hand-coloured drawings and other finely 

 illustrated plates adorn the pages of many a large volume of natural 

 history works. The Eyton collection of ornithological plates in 38 large 

 portfolio volumes, consisting of the illustrations from such choice works as 

 those by Gould, Audubon, Temminck, for which these valuable productions 

 were broken up, is alone suificient to render the library famous, while the 

 original drawings by Edward Donovan of insects, shells, Crustacea, &c., 

 and by Miss Bowdich of British fishes, are beautiful in the extreme. To 

 the botanist Curtis's "Flora Londonensis," with the continuation by 

 Hooker, in five volumes, is of lasting interest, as may be also said of 

 Hedvig's work on mosses, with which the library is likewise enriched. 

 Amongst British standaid literature it need scarcely be said that the 

 works of the master-founder hold an important place with those of Bacon, 

 Johnson, Pope, and Carlyle. 



Meeting held in. the Municipal Buildings, June 23rd, 1890, John 

 Stubbins, F.G.S., F.R.M.S. (Vice-President), in the chair. 



Exhibits : — 



Mr. Alderman Ciilston exhibited specimens of Trientalis europwa 

 (Chickweed Winter-gi een), from Scarborough, This plant is rare in 



