322 Annual Report. 



peculiar beauty, and each is to be contemplated, not as in other 

 repositories in unnatural dislocation and repose, but glowing in 

 the beautiful animation of life's progress and developement. 



In zoology, we have to remark the advance made towards the 

 acquisition of a local Fauna, by the researches of Dr. Smith, of 

 which a portion has been read here, and given in the Quarterly 

 Journal ; but from any further detail in regard to this matter, 

 we are precluded by his unavoidable, but much regretted 

 absence. It is in this department of natural science that our 

 collections have made most progress, as will shortly be illustrated 

 in an outline of the contents of the Museum. 



We have to lament that a plan adopted by the Council for 

 increasing the ornithological collection, failed from an occurrence 

 hitherto unexplained ; and as the result was the loss to the 

 Association of a sum voted for preparations, which is considera- 

 ble, compared with our resources, the Council have not thought 

 it advisable at present to prosecute this enterprize ; but they are 

 confident that the end may be, in a great measure, attained, 

 without risk of such loss in future. The Institution has to 

 acknowledge the acquisition of many valuable zoologic speci- 

 mens presented to it, or procured by its Members ; and the 

 Council would fail in their duty, if , they did not impress on the 

 Institution their value for the favor conferred on it by Dr. Smith, 

 Mr. von Ludwig, and Mr. Verreaux, in allowing their private 

 collections to be in the mean time attached to the Museum. 



The Institution has had conferred upon, a signal mark of 

 favor and confidence from its Patron, by his having transferred 

 to it the Museum formerly under the superintendance of Govern- 

 ment ; and if, along with this, we reckon the zoologic collections 

 of private Members, at present under its care, and the donations 

 received from many of them, it will be seen that we have com- 

 menced with peculiar advantages in this respect: and from 

 having now proper accommodation for the reception of such 

 objects, we have reason to anticipate a rapid increase to the 

 amount and value of the treasure, from the daily occurrences 

 which throw such objects into our hands, and the opportunity 

 we have of profiting by the aid of a zealous and highly approved 

 collector and preserver of animals. 



Of the contents of the Museum we have to present the follow- 

 ing outline, regrettiug that the unavoidable absence of the Cura- 

 tor, renders it Impossible to afford a satisfactory detail of the 

 acquisitions we have made. 



Of minerals there is a small collection belonging to the Insti- 

 tution, which is not yet arranged. It consists partly of Euro- 

 pean, and partly of South African specimens ; and to them has 

 been added some interesting examples of the fossils of the north- 

 western district, presented by Mr. Watermeyer. 



In the department of choncology the Museum is totally defi- 

 cient, with the exception of a collection of foreign shells, belong- 



