10 



The National Collection having the strongest claim, in 

 every respect, to the assistance vrhich the Society's collection 

 was capable of affording towards its completion, the Coun- 

 cil felt that the first step to be taken was to transfer to the 

 Ti-ustees of the British Museum the whole of the types of 

 species described in the Society's publications, in order 

 that they may be there preserved during the longest possible 

 period for the purpose of reference and identification. 

 , The Trustees having accepted the collection of types 

 on this understanding, the Council trust that they have 

 carried out in the most effective manner the intentions of 

 the Collectors and Donors of these interesting and import- 

 ant objects. 



Having thus provided for the safety of these historic 

 types, the Council entered into a negotiation with the 

 Trustees of the British Museum for the transfer of such 

 other portions of the collection hy sale as were desirable 

 for the purpose of filling up desiderata in the National 

 Museum. The series so selected by the Keeper of the 

 Zoological Department was accepted by the Trustees at 

 an agreed price of £500. 



The Council have effected similar sales to the Boards 

 of Direction in Her Majesty's Colleges at Galway and 

 Cork to the extent of £700, in addition to the sum received 

 from the Trustees of the British Museum ; besides smaller 

 sales to several Provincial and other Museums, by which 

 they consider the study of Zoological science will be bene- 

 ficially extended. 



In thus disposing of the Society's Collection, the Council 

 have not lost sight of its scientific utility ; and they be- 

 lieve that in the plan which they have adopted, the objects 

 of which it is composed Mall be made much more gene- 

 rally available for the advancement of science, than if they 

 had been retained in the Society's establishment. 



V. GARDEN ESTABLISHMENT. 



a. Works and Rkpairs. 



The Works and Repairs have been limited during the 

 past year to those only which were absolutely necessary 

 to prevent the dilapidation of the Society's property, or 

 injury to the health of the animals. 



