REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 539 



NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY 



OF 



NORTHUMBERLAND, DURHAM, AND NEWCASTLE- 

 UPON-TYNE. 



REPORT READ AT THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING APRIL 22nd, 1871. 



R. S. NEWALL, ESQ., V.P., IN THE CHAIR. 



In consequence of certain negotiations with the authorities of 

 the Newcastle-upon-Tyne College of Physical Science, in pro- 

 gress at the usual period for holding the Anniversary Meeting of 

 this Society, and concerning which it was hoped that, by a little 

 delay, a satisfactory Report might be presented to the members, 

 considerably more than a year has been allowed to elapse since 

 your Committee gave account of its stewardship. To chronicle 

 the doings of a society constituted like ours is, under ordinary 

 circumstances, a very simple matter — it is but to reproduce an 

 almost stereotyped record of usefulness limited by comparatively 

 small pecuniary resources, economical administration of the 

 funds secured by a moderate share of public interest, and the 

 gradual extension of the Museum by presentation and purchase — 

 and our present Report need be no exception to the rule. 



Public interest in the Society, judged by the number of visitors 

 to the Museum, does not materially flag, and this is, so far as it 

 goes, satisfactory ; but the number of members of the Society 

 iSj and has been for many years, almost stationary, the roll 

 being much smaller than it was when the population and wealth 

 of the town and district were less than one half what they at 



