REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. I93 



staff of the College of Science and others, formed such an 

 interesting collection that it was subsequently arranged for the 

 greater part of it to remain for a few days at the museum and 

 to be open to the public. During the course of the evening 

 several experimental and lantern demonstrations were given. 

 In one of these, Sir Wm. Ramsay dealt with some of the 

 inactive atmospheric gases; in another Prof. H. Stroud showed 

 a series of experiments with vacuum tubes, and Dr. William 

 Martin illustrated the practical use of the Rontgen Rays; and 

 lastly, Mr. J. M. Moncriefif described a series of lantern slides 

 of the operations for the construction of the Nile dams and 

 reservoirs, kindly lent by Sir Benjamin Baker. Your council 

 have, on behalf of the Society, tendered their warmest thanks 

 to Lord and Lady Armstrong for their kindness in entertain- 

 ing the members in so generous a manner ; and also to the 

 numerous friends who contributed to the success of the 

 evening by lending objects for exhibition or by giving 

 demonstrations. 



The competition for the Hancock Prize was again keen. 

 On the recommendation of Canon Tristram and Canon 

 Norman, the examiners, the prize was divided between Mr. 

 Richard S. Bagnall, whose essay was on *'A Coleopterist's 

 Ramble in the late part of September," and Mr. Jas. Caygill, 

 a former prize-winner, who described " A Geological Ramble 

 in Weardale." The examiners remarked that at least six of 

 the essays were of merit far above the average of previous 

 years. One of them, on "A Trip to the Fames in 1903," was 

 by a boy of twelve. Master J. M. Charlton of Cullercoats, and 

 showed so much skill in observing and portraying birds that 

 Canon Tristram asked to be allowed to award it a special 

 prize given by himself. 



Members will have heard with regret of the retirement of 

 Mr. Joseph Wright. The step has been forced upon him by 

 a recent illness, from which, however, he has to a large 

 extent recovered. Mr. Wright has been in the service of the 

 Society for over 51 years, and has become identified with its 

 history and with that of its museum to a remarkable extent. 



