PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 313 
named to them, be glad to place these local records in their 
libraries, an appeal to them was determined upon at the last anni- 
versary, which, I am sorry to say, has not been attended with the 
success anticipated. It is gratifying, however, to know that the 
number of our members is still gradually increasing, and that it 
now amounts to one hundred and eleven. 
Before quitting this subject, | may be allowed to recommend 
to those members intrusted with the preparation of Catalogues, 
to make out at once manuscript lists of those species they have 
met with in each department, to be added to as opportunity offers, 
thus forming a frame-work which will greatly facilitate their 
future operations. All the members of the club may, indeed, occas- 
sionally contribute something towards this object, if they will com- 
municate anything rare or curious they may meet with to the 
gentlemen preparing lists, or, what would keep up the general 
interest more effectually, bring the specimens to our meetings for 
exhibition. It may not be amiss also to remind you of a rule of 
our club, by which itis enjoined that each of the members should 
assist in forming a local collection to be placed in the Newcastle 
Museum, by which the species published in the catalogues may be 
identified, and the study of our local natural history further en- 
couraged. By this means, too, scientific strangers might be able 
to see at a glance the natural productions that our counties afford. 
It is to be hoped that the Natural History Society may ere loug 
be able to appropriate a particular part of the Museum for the 
purpose, which would greatly assist in carrying out the project. 
That society has now purchased the extensive herbarium of the 
late Mr. Robertson, one of the most distinguished of our botanists, 
which, when properly arranged for reference, will afford great 
assistance in the study of our native plants. 
The additions to our Fauna during the year have been con- 
siderable. Dr. Embleton has lately procured from Stockton 
specimens of the black rat, a native species now nearly extinct 
in this part of the country. Some rare birds have also been 
noticed. One of the rarest as well as the most beautiful of these 
is the Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) whose visits to 
this country have hitherto been few and far-between, This 
