REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 283 



first-class camera. The need of a camera has often been felt 

 at the Museum, and it is chiefly owing to the kindness of 

 Mr. W. E. Beck that it has at length been supplied. Mr. 

 Beck gave ;£io towards the purchase, and other members 

 have contributed most of the remaining cost of the camera 

 and the apparatus connected with it. Further sums for this 

 purpose will be gladly accepted, as the original contributors 

 did not wish any of the cost to come upon the general funds. 



A great loss to the Society and to north-country natural 

 history has been suffered in the death of the Rev. W. J. 

 Wingate. He was best known as an authority on the Diptera 

 or two-winged flies, and his modestly named " Catalogue of 

 Durham Diptera," published as the second volume of the new 

 series of Transactions, has had a large sale as being the only 

 real introduction to the study of the Diptera in the English 

 language. His large collection of local flies he presented to 

 the Museum some years ago. But Mr. Wingate's knowledge 

 of nature was by no means confined to this group of insects ; 

 he was a good botanist and a good geologist as well, and by 

 his energy as an organiser and lecturer he did great service 

 to the local scientific societies of the county of Durham. 



Several active and useful members have unfortunately been 

 lost during the year by removal to other parts of the country. 

 Among them are Mr. B. Amsden, the Rev. J. M. Hick and 

 Mr. George W. Temperley. Mr. R. S. Bagnall, though 

 retaining his connexion with the Society, has gone to Oxford 

 as assistant to Prof. Poulton in the Hope Department of the 

 University Museum ; and while much regretting his loss to 

 this district, we congratulate him on his appointment to such 

 an important and congenial post. In view of the difficulties 

 under which he has worked hitherto, his rise within a few 

 years to a position of such prominence as an entomologist is 

 remarkable. To help forward a gifted naturalist like Mr. 

 Bagnall in the earlier stages of his career is one of the 

 happiest functions which such a body as the Natural History 

 Society can have the opportunity to discharge. 



