196 KEPOKT OF THE COMMITTEE. 



private schools; and they gladly welcome these applications 

 from those who are desirous to have the use of such specimens 

 for the giving of object lessons in Natural History in schools. 



The rooms of the Museum have been used during the year by 

 the Mayor for the purpose of a Eeception and Conversazione, 

 which he gave to the members of the Reformatory and Refuge 

 Union on their meeting in this city. 



The following valuable donations, which may be specially 

 mentioned, will shew that the collections of the Society have 

 been considerably added to in several departments during the 

 year. Frederic Eaine, Esq., formerly of Durham, who has 

 several times previously contributed largely to the collection of 

 British Eirds' ISTests and Eggs, and to the collections of Insects, 

 by presenting his extensive collections of these to the Society, 

 has again generously presented an almost complete collection of 

 European Butterflies, chiefly collected and mounted by himself 

 during his residence in the South of France. This collection 

 includes nearly 300 species and varieties of European Lepidop- 

 tera, many of them very rare, from the Alpine districts of France 

 and Corsica, mounted and arranged in convenient glass-topped 

 boxes by his own hand and with the locality and date attached 

 to each specimen. "With these also was presented a large col- 

 lection of Flies (Diptera) from the same parts of Europe and 

 several other interesting Insects. These most valuable collec- 

 tions will, it is expected, be soon arranged in suitable cabinets, 

 where they will form an authoritative collections for reference 

 to local Entomologists and others interested in this beautiful 

 group of animals. 



A small collection of African Lepidoptera has also been pre- 

 sented by C. E. Bell, Esq., from Mandala, ISTyassaland, in British 

 Central Africa. Other departments of the collection have also 

 been added to. 



During the year the Bird Collection has been gradually in- 

 creased by interesting specimens presented by George E. Craw- 

 hall, Esq.; Alfred Allhusen, Esq., of Beadnell Tower; Mr. 

 Thomas Thompson; Mr. John Duncan, and others, who have 

 sent many desirable additions to the local collection of Birds. 



