EEPOKX OF THE COMMITTEE. 253 



failing which he shall cease to be an Associate of the Society at 

 the end of the current financial year of the Society. 



CONDITION OF THE MUSEUM BUILDING. 



It will be evident to the members that a large building like 

 the Museum needs constant attention and repairs to keep it in 

 proper order, and a certain sum of money must necessarily be 

 spent annually for this purpose. The condition of the East 

 Corridor and Stair Case seems to call for immediate attention, 

 and also the interior of the "Wall Cases in the first room require 

 to be repainted as soon as a sum of money can be spared for 

 that purpose. 



Obittjaet IS'oTiCE. — Among the loss of members during the 

 year we have to record the death of the last of the Hancock 

 family of Natural History fame in the person of our late mem^ 

 ber, Miss Mary Jane Hancock, who died in her 87th year on the 

 28th of November, 1896. She was the sole survivor and younger 

 sister of Albany and John Hancock, those brothers who were 

 distinguished by the cultivation of several branches of Natural 

 History whereby they signally enlarged the bounds of science. 

 Miss Hancock had spent a long, quiet and amiable life in pro- 

 moting the domestic happiness of her brothers and following 

 pursuits congenial to their own. Botany and landscape painting 

 were favourite subjects with her up to the last year of her life, 

 and she left behind a considerable Herbarium of British plants 

 and numerous Portfolios of sketches of rural and marine scenery 

 from every place she visited in England and Scotland. She dwelt 

 chiefly among her own people and did good, and died regretted 

 by many friends who knew best the course of her retired and 

 amiable life. 



Miss Hancock left a legacy of £100 to the funds of the Society, 

 which amount, less duty, has been received by the Hon. Trea- 

 surer and has been carried, by order of the Committee, to capital 

 account. 



