OBSERVATIONS ON SUBTERRANEAN TEMPERATURE. 221 



the science with valuable monographs. Such a course would be of far 

 greater service to zoology, as well as more interesting to the student, than if 

 he were to confine himself to the almost exhausted subject of European or 

 British ornithology. 



8. The last point which I shall notice is the prevailing want of scientific 

 arrangement in our ornithological museums, both public and private. I have 

 seen few collections in this country in which anything more is attempted than 

 a general sorting of the specimens into their orders, and families, and fewer 

 still in which the generic and specific distinctions are indicated by systematic 

 arrangement and uniformity of labelling. It is needless to remark how 

 essential classification is to the scientific utility of a museum, but some excuse 

 for the general want of it may be found in the scarcity of suitable works to 

 serve as guides in arrangement. Now, however, by following the code of 

 zoological nomenclature adopted by this Association (Report for 1842), and 

 by taking as models the excellent ' Catalogues of the British Museum,' and 

 Mr. G. R. Gray's ' Genera of Birds,' the scientific curators of museums can be 

 no longer at a loss, and Ave may hope soon to see a great reform effected in the 

 arrangement of our ornithological collections. 



In concluding this sketch of the progress and prospects of Ornithology, I 

 must apologize for many imperfections and omissions which are unavoidable 

 in treating of so extensive a subject. A person with more time at command 

 and more favourably circumstanced for consulting authorities, would doubt- 

 less have rendered this Report more complete, but I trust that it may be of 

 some use in guiding the student to the sources of his information, and in 

 pointing out the best methods of advancing this fascinating department of 

 scientific zoology. 



Report of Committee appointed to conduct Observations on Subterranean 

 Temperature in Ireland. By Thomas Oldham, Esq. 



In pursuance of this object thermometers were placed, in August ISiS, in 

 the deepest part of the Knockmahon Copper Mines in the County of Water- 

 ford ; one being sunk three feet into the rock, and another into the lode at a 

 depth of 774 feet from the surface. A thermometer of ordinary construc- 

 tion was hung in the gallery or level where these were placed, and another 

 fixed four feet from the level of the ground at surface in shade, all protected 

 from radiation, &c. By the zealous assistance of Mr. J. Petherick, the agent 

 of the Mining Company of Ireland, arrangements were made that all these 

 should be regularly read by the underground captains. It was intended to 

 have completed an entire year's observations, but the necessity for extending 

 the working of the mine in that part obliged the instruments to be removed 

 in July 184'4. 



The readings are given in full in the tables, the necessary corrections 

 having been made to reduce them all to the same standard. 



These mines are in lat. 52° 8' north, and the mean annual temperature at 

 the surface calculated by the usual formula would, therefore, be 50°*026. 



The general average of the thermometers at the depth of 774 feet, and the 

 maxima and minima, were as follows : — 



Average. Maximum. Minimum. 



In air 5°7-176 58'5 56*25 



In rock or country . . 57-369 58*5 56-25 



In lode 57-915 58-5 57*25 



