CURATOR AND LIBRARIAN’S REPORT. 
THE additions during the past year show, unfortunately, a decided falling 
off in the number of species, and also in the number of contributors. But 
while this is so, your Curator has pleasure in stating that many of the dona- 
tions are of special interest and value, or of great rarity. 
Among the Birds may be mentioned the specimen of the Purple Gallinule 
(Porphyrio caruleus), presented by LORD Kenyon. This remarkable species 
belongs to the brightly-coloured Rails, and is a native of the Mediterranean 
countries. Whether it was a migrant from its native habitat, or whether it 
had escaped from captivity in this country, are points which will, probably, 
never be settled. Your Curator saw this specimen (when living) in the aviary 
at Greddington, shortly after its capture on the borders of Flintshire ; and he 
also interviewed the man who captured it. Unfortunately the MSS. notes 
giving full particulars of the capture of the bird, were inadvertently mislaid, 
and the exact locality cannot now be given. Mr. CHAS. OLDHAM has also 
made two valuable contributions: a Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivoris) and a 
Scoter (@demia nigra)—both species being new to the collections. A speci- 
men of the Bittern is also worthy of comment. 
Among the tracheates are several insects of much interest. Mr. ARKLE 
has again contributed many species of great interest, several of which are 
new, not only to the Society’s Collections but also to the district, 
The collections of Birds and Insects have been thoroughly overhauled 
and cleaned, and some slight alterations made in the classification of the two 
groups. 
Your Curator desires also to draw attention to the fact that the Society’s 
Collections of Books have been removed to, and classified in, the more 
spacious room which was set apart as a library (with the sanction of the 
Management Committee) for the use of the two Societies. 
In the last Annual Report of this Society your Curator called attention 
to the course of Nature-Study Lessons, which were given (by invitation of the 
Museum Management) to children recruited from the higher standards of the 
Elementary Schools in this City. Thirty-six lessons were given last year, the 
total number of attendances being, approximately, 1,115. This year a fresh 
course of subjects was selected by the Committee of Education, and twelve 
lessons were given ; the total number of children attending the course being 
420. This makes a grand total of forty-eight lessons given; and brings the 
grand total of attendances to 1,535. The subjects chosen for 1905 were as 
follows :— 
1. The Salmon 
2. The Frog and its allies 
3. The British Serpents 
4. The edible Cockle and Mussel 
5. The British Sticklebacks 
6. The British Bats. 
A series of specimens was selected from the Society’s Collections to illus- 
trate the various subjects taught; but your Curator wishes here to express 
Cc 
