RKPOET OF TBHE COMMITTEE. 159 



such importance as to require a special mention here. The Rev. 

 R, Stewart "Wright, of the London Missionary Society, has oblig- 

 ingly presented a large collection of Native weapons, implements, 

 and other articles used by the natives of the Tanganika district 

 of Central Africa, collected by himself during a long residence 

 in the country, of which a detailed enumeration will be found 

 in the list of donations. 



Only a few additions have been made to the Geological Col- 

 lections ; chiefly minerals, which will be found recorded in the 

 general list of donations. 



Some interesting and rare birds have been presented to the 

 Ornithological Collections by Capt. A. Noble, Mr. John Dagiish, 

 Mr. Alfred A. Straker, Mr. John Coppin, Erskine Macdonald, 

 Mr. John Duncan and several other contributors ; chiefly water- 

 birds, many of which visited this district during the severe 

 weather of last winter. Many of these which were desiderata 

 have been stuffed by J. Jackson, and are now arranged in the 

 bird room. Within the last few days, Mr. "Wm. Brack, of South 

 Byker, has presented a specimen of the Little Bittern, which 

 had been killed against the telegraph wires, near the Railway 

 Shops, at Gateshead. This is a very rare casual visitor — only 

 three specimens are recorded in Mr. Hancock's Catalogue of 

 Birds of Northumberland as having been killed in the district. 

 Another example was captured alive about the same time, Octo- 

 ber, 1889, at Sheriff Hill, which was unfortunately destroyed 

 by the ignorant people who had captured it. 



A very fine living Huanaco, Llama hnanaco, from Chili, was 

 kindly presented by our friend Mr. Tripler, of Coquimbo, through 

 Mr. Cameron Swan. Though exposed to the severity of an un- 

 usually hard winter, this creature has thrived vigorously since 

 its arrival, and may now be considered acclimatized, and able to 

 bear the rigorous winter of our climate. Many other acquisitions 

 have been made to the collections, which will be found duly re- 

 corded in the Donation List appended to this Report. 



