482 Meport of Meetings. By tlie President. 



this sum about £38,000 has been raised by public subscription, 

 the greater part of which has been contributed by the personal 

 friends of Mr Hancock. 



Important and unique collections of Minerals and Fossils from 

 the Coal-measures and other formations have been contributed 

 by Sir W. Gr. Armstrong, C B., Lady Armstrong, Norman 

 Cookson, Esq., and the Committee of the Mining Institute, 

 Mr James Kirkby presented an extensive collection of fossils 

 from the Magnesian-limestone of the district, and of fossils from 

 the Carboniferous rocks of Fife. Fine collections of fossils have 

 also been given to the Society from the Secondary and Tertiary 

 formations by M. E. Pryor, Esq., and Dr Dew-Smith, of Cam- 

 bridge. Mr Hancock has also presented a large collection of 

 eggs and nests of British and Foreign Birds ; and Mrs Laws 

 contributed a collection of eggs and nests made by the late John 

 Laws, of Breckney Hill, a pupil of Thomas Bewick. 



The Museum contains, likewise, the Entomological collections 

 of Mr John T. Bold, rich in types of rare species, and in some 

 orders fully illustrative of the insect fauna of the district ; also 

 the botanical collections of Mr Winch and other local botanists of 

 note. Conchology and Zoophytology have been brought up to 

 the present state of science. 



H.R.H. the Prince of "Wales formally opened the Museum on 

 the occasion of his visit to Newcastle, 20th August, 1884. 



Under guidance of the heads of departments, our members 

 carried out a tour of inspection of the splendid Museum, and its 

 valuable and beautifully arranged contents, wbich excited our 

 admiration. Of a collection so extensive, so varied, so inter- 

 esting, I shall not be expected, nor shall I attempt to give a 

 detailed account. The arrangements are not yet fully carried 

 out, but under Mr Howse's careful and hard-working supervi- 

 sion, a state of order is gradually extending itself ; and we were 

 struck, not only with the character and completeness which the 

 Museum has already reached as a whole, but with the facilities 

 which are available for students of special branches. 



As might be expected, the specimens of the Carboniferous 

 Series are valuable and abundant. 



Perhaps Ornithology is more strongly represented than any 

 other branch, the specimens of birds being very numerous, 

 beautifully set up, and in capital order. 



Among the miscellanea, our attention was arrested by a block 



