45 



In addition to these, the British collection also includes a large 

 number of specimens, to which no specific names are affixed : there 

 are notes attached to some of these, showing that Mr, Lonsdale has 

 ascertained them to be new and undescribed : in most instances the 

 localities are recorded. Your Committee have to recommend with 

 respect to this portion of the Society's collection, — 



First. That all the new species be described and named by Mr. 

 Forbes, and the account published in the Society's Pro- 

 ceedings. 



Second. Considering that the Museum of this Society is the only 

 one which can be considered as fairly available to those engaged 

 in Geological inquiries, that a Catalogue should be published 

 of all the species named, and arranged with reference to the 

 cabinets, and to the localities from whence procured ; as they 

 feel confident that such a list will be of great use to members 

 of the Society and geologists generally, and tend much to 

 lessen the difficulties and doubts which most must have expe- 

 rienced with respect to the identification of fossil species, of 

 which the descriptions are spread through numerous and 

 expensive works : separate poi'tions of such a Catalogue could 

 be published from time to time. 



Besides the reasons assigned above, the Society's collection is 

 well fitted to be made one of general reference, owing to the great 

 care which the late Curator devoted to the determination of species, 

 as also from the results which may confidently be expected from 

 Mr. Forbes's labours ; because it also contains many of the original 

 specimens from which the characters of species have been taken, 

 such as of some of those of Sowerby's ' Mineral Conchology,' and 

 also all those which are described and figured in Mr. Murchison's 

 * Silurian System.' 



Your Committee are aware that it may be objected to this sug- 

 gestion, that the Geological collection is very rarely consulted ; but 

 this, they are of opinion, arises mainly from a disinclination to 

 undertake the trouble of an examination of so large a collection, 

 without some guide as to what it contains. The cost and labour 

 of such a catalogue as we now recommend would be very trifling, 

 for which we feel assured that the Society would be amply com- 

 pensated : it is well known that many parts of the collection present 

 great deficiencies ; the most certain way by which these may be 

 supplied, is by making known, indirectly, wherein they consist. 



The state of the collection of foreign fossils contained in the 

 upper Museum is very unsatisfactory when compared with the 

 order and arrangement of the British suite ; it is rich in interesting 

 specimens, which at present are wholly unconsultable. We there- 

 fore recommend that Mr. Forbes should be particularly requested 

 to direct his attention to this portion of the Museum. 



The only i-emaining point upon which your Committee areaAvare 

 they have anything to which to direct the attention of the Council, 

 is to that of the duplicate specimens ; these have become exceedingly 



