pkesident's address. 177 



stations on our own coasts, and they have reports also from Heli- 

 goland, a station well known to ornithologists for the wonderful 

 migration phenomena to be seen there. Already some very in- 

 teresting facts have been established ; and with the further evi- 

 dence which will doubtless be collected by this means, and by 

 the researches of such enterprising and accomplished ornitholo- 

 gists as Mr. Seebohm, we may hope to have by-and-bye a good 

 deal of light thrown on this interesting and mysterious subject. 

 In conclusion, I cannot forbear congratulating all the lovers of 

 Natural History, of this neighbourhood especially, on the rapid 

 progress, and the prospect of the early completion of the 'Nevr 

 Museum of the Natural History Society of Northumberland and 

 Durham. The accomplishment of this undertaking would have 

 been exceedingly difficult but for the munificent contributions 

 which have been given by a few liberal and wealthy friends of 

 the Society. When completed the Society will be in possession 

 of a building admirably adapted to accommodate and display 

 their valuable collections, which now cannot be properly made 

 available for want of space. It is only proper to say that for 

 the conception and carrying out of this undertaking the Society 

 and naturalists generally are indebted to Mr. John Hancock, but 

 I may almost say more important than this is the noble gift to 

 the Society of his own ornithological collection. Those of us 

 who have already had the privilege of becoming partially ac- 

 quainted with it are able to appreciate the gift, while those to 

 whom it is yet unknown will before long have the opportunity 

 of studying it in the new building, where it will be arranged 

 under Mr. Hancock's superintendence. Much might appropri- 

 ately be said on this subject now, but a future occasion will 

 perhaps be more appropriate. It may perhaps be the pleasant 

 lot of my immediate successor to congratulate you on the opening 

 of the new Museum. 



