ANNUAL MEETING. 329 



The past year has shown a greater number of visitors to the 

 museum — viz : — 



Admitted free 3799 



By ticket 283 



By payment . . . . . . 377 



4,459 

 Considerable progress has been made in the better placing 

 of the objects in the museum. The new case of Cornish min- 

 erals has been arranged and labelled. This has attracted much 

 attention from visitors. A beginning has been made in the 

 removal of the shells from the geological into the zoological room, 

 and at the same time the general collection of minerals is being 

 transferred to the cases from which the shells are being taken. 

 This when completed will show the various objects in the museum 

 under their proper classification. The geological room will 

 contain the fossils, minerals, and other objects which belong to 

 ancient life, and to the earth's crust respectively. The zoological 

 room will contain those forms which appertain to recent life. 

 The limited space available for such purposes makes work of 

 this kind very slow. 



The Council refer with much pleasure to the course of 

 lectures which the Curator, Mr. Henry Crowther, has inaugur- 

 ated this autumn. An influential local committee has been 

 formed, with Canon Moor, one of the vice-presidents, as chair- 

 man, and Mr. Hamilton James, a member of council, as Hon. 

 Sec. The subjects at present treated are geology, mineralogy, 

 hygiene, and botany. The classes are immediately connected 

 with the Science and Art Department, South Kensington, and are 

 remarkably well attended, there being 33 names registered for 

 botany, 24 for hygiene, 17 for mineralogy, and 12 for geology. 

 These lectures are replete with teaching matter, and have the 

 advantage of being based on university methods. 



Great advantage has been derived by the society from the 

 excellent work performed by Mr. Crowther,the Curator, in many 

 ways, and not only have the council been pleased with his 

 efficiency, but those visiting the Institution have expressed their 

 satisfaction at the increased facilities which he has placed within 

 their reach when studying the various collections. 



