CURATOR AND LIBRARIAN’S REPORT. 
In comparison with last year’s Report (1904-5), the additions to the 
Society’s Museum shows a decided increase, and your Curator has pleasure 
in stating that many species are new to the Society’s Collections, and also of 
great rarity. 
The additions to the Birds include the following:—Chough (Graculus 
graculus) ; Hobby Hawk (Falco subbuteo) ; Osprey (Pandion haliaétus) ; 
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreusj ; Snowbunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis) ; 
Goldfinch (Carduelas elegans) ; and several varieties of Pheasant (Phasianus 
colchichus). These examples formed a part of that portion of the collection 
of British Birds which was made by the late Mr. J. C. STIVENS, and 
presented to the Society’s Museum, in January of the present year, by the 
Representatives of Mr. Stivens’ family. These examples have been removed 
from the cases in which they were originally mounted, and placed in the 
classificatory series of the Society’s collection, together with as full a record 
as it was possible to obtain.* The remaining portion of this collection, 
and also the extensive collection of exotic birds, are the property of the 
Management Committee. A variety of the Kestrel Hawk (Falco tinnunculus) 
and Blue Tit (Parus ceruleus), are worthy of comment. One new 
Life-history Group of the Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus) has been completed 
during the past year from specimens and material presented by COLONEL 
Bryan G. DAvigs-CookE, of Colomendy, Mold. Two other Bird Groups, 
viz. :—The Puffin (Fratércula drtica) and the King Fisher (Alcedo ispida), 
are in course of preparation; these, your Curator hopes to complete during 
the ensuing year. 
A specimen of the Common Seal (Phoca vituiina) was purchased 
by the Society from some Handbridge Fishermen, who caught it in the Dee 
near the old Cheese Stage, on November Igth, 1905. According to MESSRS. 
OLDHAM & COWARD’S list of the “‘ Mammalian Fauna of Cheshire and 
North Wales,’”’ dated 1895, this species has occasionally been captured in the 
Dee and Mersey. The specimen has been preserved and added to the 
Society’s Collection, and your Curator has pleasure in stating that it is 
an important addition, being the only representative of this Group of 
Seals (I’innigedes) contained in the local collections. Unfortunately, the 
specimen has suffered somewhat from a form of skin disease, but the 
specimen is perfect in every other respect. 
Many rare species have been added to the Society’s collections of 
Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, including several species new to the Society’s 
district, to which Messrs. J. ARKLE, GEo. O. DAY, BROCKTON ToMLIN, and 
your Curator, have materially contributed. 
The Education Authorities have arranged with the Museum Manage- 
ment Committee for a further course of Nature-study lessons, to be given by 
your Curator, to children selected from the Higher Standards of the 
* The records of the rarer Birds were given, verbatim, to Mr. R. Newsteap, by the 
late Mr. Srivens, on October 3rd, 1903 ; and Mr. NewsTEapD handed over his MSS. for 
the Society’s use and reference. 
