274 Transactions of the Leeds Philosophical Societij. 



museum possesses some interesting- examples of the different classes 

 of the Zoophytes. The most prominent is a specimen of Meandrina 

 lahyrinthica, weighing 16 stone : of the Pteropods, there is Cymbu- 

 lia Peronii : of Gasteropods, Glaucus Scyllaea, Doris, Aplysia : of 

 Echinodermata, there are Sipunculus, Holothuria, several genera of 

 the Echinides, Asteria, Ophiura, Euryale verrucosa and Comatula : 

 of Acalepha, Actinea and Physalia, &c. The insects, which occupy 

 nearly two glass-covered tables, include some rare and beautiful ex- 

 amples of the orders, and are arranged according to the system of Dr 

 Leach, which was the most popular at the time, uniting- the exotics 

 and natives in the same case, the better to keep up the chain of affi- 

 nity, and exhibit the gradual approximation of one form to another. 

 The Crustacea are arranged also according to the views of that lament- 

 ed naturalist. The shells according to Lamarck, which three depart- 

 ments, although not numerous, are highly respectable ones. The 

 third room contains antiquities, works of art, and the dresses, &c. of 

 uncivilized nations. The object of principal interest in this room is 

 a very fine mummy of a priest, who lived during the reign of Ra- 

 messes V. upwards of 3000 years since, in a remarkably high state 

 of preservation, enclosed in a coffin of elaborate workmanship. The 

 head is bare, probably in conformity with the rites of priesthood. The 

 pupils are distinctly visible in the orbits, and during an examination 

 of the skull a few years since, the dura mater with its falx, was found 

 to be quite perfect, the brain having been extracted through the nos- 

 trils, by breaking down the ethmoid bone. The muscles are by no 

 means dry, but, on the contrary, allowed of being- dissected, and the 

 sciatic nerve traced. An account of this mummy was published by 

 the Society five or six years since. There are also some curious re- 

 mains of Terra cotta, from Cuzco, the ancient capital of Peru, toge- 

 ther with some human skulls from the same spot. These have a sin- 

 gular appearance, from being artificially flattened on the right side and 

 top towards the back part. The library has never created that in- 

 terest which such a feature of the institution must have been expect- 

 ed to do, and, consequently, is not extensive, containing only about 

 600 volumes on the various branches of science, with the transactions 

 of public bodies and journals of the day. Here is also deposited the 

 chemical, electrical, and galvanic apparatus. The Society consists of 

 about 67 proprietors, 125 ordinary members, and 100 subscribers ; the 

 first, having paid L. 100 towards the erection of the building, are 

 shareholders, with the power of transferring or bequeathing the share, 

 and exempt from all annual subscriptions and fines ; the ordinary 

 members, those who hold a three guinea share, with an annual sub- 



