CiRC. 169. 



Members who have lost or mislaid their cards may have another on appli- 

 cation to the Secretaries, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope.- 



Associates may obtain theirs through the Secretaty of their own local 

 Society. 



Zbe /iRunicipal /Iftuecuni, Ibull. 



Mr. Thos. Sheppard, F.G.S., Curator, writes : — 



The Hull Museum has been in existence for over three-quarters-of-a-century, 

 and until recently was under the auspices of the Hull Literary and Philosophical 

 Society. About two years ago the Museum was handed over to the Corporation, 

 and since then the collections have been entirely overhauled and re-arranged. In 

 this re -arrangement greater prominence has been given to objects of local interest, 

 and specimens from various parts of the world, which formerly received so conspicu- 

 ous a position, are considered to be of secondary importance in the new arrangement 

 of the collections. In the circular issued in connection with the last meeting of the 

 Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, at Hull, in 1889, will be found a description of the 

 Museum and its contents at that period. 



On June 2nd last, the Museum was first opened to the public as a Municipal 

 Museum, and since that time has been very well attended. The experiment, recently 

 tri-ed, of opening the Museuin in the evening has been most successful. The collec- 

 tions principally include natural history, geological and antiquarian objects, many of 

 which are of exceptional local interest. Amongst the natural history specimens, for 

 example, will be found the skeletons of five species of whales, the largest of which, 

 described in the 'Naturalist,' for Aug. 1901, is a particularly valuable example, being 

 the type specimen of Sibbald's Rorqual {Balcenoptera sibbaldii). There are also ex- 

 amples of the dolphin, porpoise, etc., exhibited in the cases. The Museum contains 

 a fair series of skeletons of quadrupeds. Amongst the birds, particular mention 

 should be made of the valuable Pease Collection, which includes some exceptionally 

 fine birds shot in the district. The Johnson Swailes' collection of eggs, recently pre- 

 sented to the Museum by Mr. George Swailes, will be on view for the Meeting. 

 This includes many rare examples, and has been considerably added to by Messrs. 

 T. Audas and f2. W. Wade. Special attention is also directed to the Charles Russell 

 Collection of butterflies and moths in the West (jallery, as well as the exception- 

 ally complete collection of East Yorkshire Coleoptera, a full list of which has appeared 

 in the Transactions of the Hull Scientific and Field Naturalists' Club. This collec- 

 tion is based upon specimens collected by the late Charles Russell, and has been 

 arranged in the case and considerably augmented by Messrs. T. Stainforth and H. E. 

 Johnson. The antiquarian collections include many most valuable local objects, 

 several of which have been recently acquired. Amongst them are - British, Roman, 

 Anglo-Saxon, and Mediaeval antiquities. The Anglo-Saxon relics include some 

 skeletons, ornaments, and weapons lately excavated in East Yorkshire. Fore- 

 most amongst the antiquities is a curious model of a boat and warrior crew, found at 

 Roos Carrs, near Withernsea, which has l^een recently figured and described in the 

 "Antiquary " and in local journals. The geological collection, situated in the East 

 Gallery, formerly contained very few specimens relating to East Yorkshire. This is 

 consequently being re-arranged, and with the help of local geologists, it is hoped 

 will shortly contain a suitable series of specimens illustrating the geology of East 

 Yorkshire. In the gallery have recently been placed many of William Smith's hand- 

 coloured geological sections, dated i8i9,.and other maps and sections, which are 

 well worth inspection. Amongst the medieval antiquities will be found numerous 

 objects excavated in Hull, and attention is also directed to the William Stephenson 

 collection of Beverley antiquities. The museum contains a very fair collection of 

 ethnographical olijects, which are interesting for purposes of comparison, etc. 



Election of Ten Additional Members of General Committee. —Yoting- 

 Papers are not sent out this year, but members may vote by post-card, addressed to 

 the Secretaries, making their choice from the List of Members sent herewith. 



