72 



Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 



[No. 1, 



drawers for the reception of duplicates and specimens under examina- 

 tion has also been provided. 



The Society's collection of Indian meteorites was transmitted to 

 Professor Maskelyne in 1862, that gentleman having most kindly 

 undertaken the charge of their chemical investigation and of their 

 section with a view to the exchange of portions of them with the 

 British Museum. The Society have now received from Professor 

 Maskelyne a very beautifully-executed series of models of the original 

 stones and portions of the stones themselves, together with a series 

 of specimens of foreign meteorites presented by the Trustees of the 

 British Museum. 



They have also received, through the kindness of Dr. Haidino'er, 

 another valuable series from Dr. Homes, Director of the Imperial 

 Mineral Cabinet of Vienna, to which a set of Indian specimens had 

 been presented by the Society. 



In the Zoological Department the Society have received a set of 

 upwards of 300 species of invertebrate fossils from Mr. H. F. Blan- 

 ford, and numerous specimens of the mammals and birds of the 

 Andaman Islands, with two almost entire skeletons of the natives of 

 those islands, from Lieutenant -Colonel Tytler. 



' Captain Smyth has also presented several skins of Thibetan ani- 

 mals ; — these last, together with some skeletons of those animals that 

 had been purchased by the Society and since mounted, form valuable 

 representatives of the zoology of Thibet and Northern India. 



In the Ethnological Department the collection of crania has received 

 but few additions, but a considerable number of portraits of ethnolo- 

 gical interest have been added to their photographic albums, chiefly 

 from the Government of India. 



The archaeological collection has received a slightly mutilated colos- 

 sal figure of Buddha exhumed by General Cunningham at Sahet 

 Mahet, the ancient Sravasti in Oudh, presented by the Eight Hon'ble 

 the late Earl of Elgin. Its basement bears an important inscription, 

 in which the name Sravasti, of the place where it was found also 

 occurs. 



The Council are glad to be able to announce that the preliminary 

 negotiations for the transfer of the Society's Museum to Government 

 have now assumed a shape which permits of their being submitted 

 to the Society at large, with a view to definite action. 



