426 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



Dene. With a good Library and the living examples in our 

 parks for reference, students of Botany, at any rate, have a 

 tangible inducement to pursue their sudies; and if Professor 

 Brady, or some other specialist, will follow the example of 

 Alderman Barkas, in giving practical lessons in one or all of our 

 parks, we would in all probability revive in Newcastle the sight 

 that is to be seen in the Botanical Gardens of Brussels, where 

 the students may be seen in the morning learning from Nature 

 a lesson in which they may be examined at the College later on 

 in the day. In this connection our City Council have shown a 

 commendable spirit, but I cannot pay them the same compli- 

 ment respecting their decision as to the principal member of 

 the very small Zoological Collection in Heaton Park. Much 

 sickly sentimentality has been evinced concerning this unhappy 

 brute. If Bruin is not comfortable it would be a much more 

 sensible plan to make him so than to shoot him. Surely it is 

 within the power of the authorities to provide suitable quarters 

 not only for the Bear but the Gazelles and any other specimens 

 that may be or have been presented to the public ! I trust that 

 immediate steps will be taken to remedy the defect at Heaton, 

 and to make the collection worthy of the town that has produced 

 so many naturalists of eminence. 



To those who desire a lesson in the keeping and management 

 of wild beasts I would recommend a visit to the Museum, where 

 Mr. Wright will show them the Condor presented by Dr. 

 Pattinson, apparently happy in its confinement, and watching 

 the movements of visitors. The obliging keeper will also tell 

 them how another Condor, given by Mr. Tripler, appreciated 

 the gentle nursing it received during an illness, which unfortu- 

 nately proved fatal. 



Miss Omerod, the Consulting Entomlogist of the Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society, has given publicity to a great deal of practical 

 information in a valuable little work called "Observations of 

 Injurious Insects and Common Parm Pests." One of these, the 

 Warble Ply, possesses a personal interest for me as a manu- 

 facturer, as I know full well the almost incredible damage it is 

 capable of doing in reducing the value of a hide of leather. 



