226 KEPOKT OF THE COMMITTEE. 



local subject connected with the Natural History of this district. 

 The Reverend Canon undertakes to obtain the amount necessary 

 to form a Fund for this purpose, if the Committee will under- 

 take the duty of awarding the prize by appointing a Sub-com- 

 mittee of its members or others to adjudicate on any essays that 

 may be communicated. The Committee have cordially endorsed 

 Canon Tristram's proposal, and as this matter is still in course 

 of arrangement, it need only be mentioned at present that the 

 sum of £60 has already been promised for this purpose. 



Since the date of the last Report an arrangement has been made 

 with the Council of the College of Science for the temporary use, 

 by the Professor of Agriculture, and the Demonstrator in Biology 

 and Botany, of the Lower "West Corridor and one of the work- 

 rooms. These have been fitted up by the Council of the College 

 in accordance with an agreement with this Society. The lectures 

 and demonstrations connected with both these departments of the 

 College have been conveniently and satisfactorily conducted in 

 these rooms during the last two sessions. 



During the year the Society has had to mourn the loss of 

 another of its older and influential members, John Coppin, Esq., 

 of Bingfield, Northumberland. Always a lover of Natural His- 

 tory and an encourager of others in the same pursuits, Mr. Coppin 

 at all times gave his warm sympathy and generous assistance 

 towards the objects the Society had in view. So much so was 

 this a matter of importance with him, that he has with much 

 foresight and noble generosity bequeathed the sum of £2,000 to 

 the Trustees of the Society to form a Fund towards the main- 

 tenance of an efficient Curator for the Museum. 



Several important and valuable donations have been made 

 during the year to the Museum collections, which call for special 

 mention in this report, and the thanks of the Society. 



The Ornithological collections have been further enriched 

 through the generosity of Frederic Rainc, Esq., formerly of 

 Durham, who has lately presented his most valuable and exten- 

 sive collection of the eggs and nests of British and European 

 Birds contained in five large cabinets. Only a few years ago 

 Mr. Raine presented his splendid collection and Cabinet of British 



