34 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Jan. 



Library Committee have asked for a grant of Rs. 1,600, which the 

 Finance Committee will grant when the funds will admit of it. As to 

 donations of specimens, a considerable number have been received, of 

 various kinds : they have been added to the other collections transferred 

 to the Indian Museum. But as the inventory of the specimens to be 

 made over is not yet complete, the formal transfer is not yet accom- 

 plished ; nor can it be until the new Museum is ready for their reception. 

 I may add that, with the view of completing the inventory, two 

 assistants have been employed, entailing a considerable expense on 

 the Society whose funds at present are ill able to bear any extra strain. 

 We have therefore, as the work is done as much in the interests of the 

 Museum, as of the Society, asked the trustees of the Museum to share 

 the expense attending the completion of a catalogue raisonnee of the 

 collection. 



The Natural History Committee has also transacted its share of the 

 business of the Society. 



At the first meeting I proposed that an attempt should be made 

 to establish a zoological garden in Calcutta. At the subsequent 

 meetings, the Committee matured the scheme ; ways and means, 

 plans and localities were discussed, examined and inspected, and 

 the project becoming known, it received the munificent offer 

 of 80,000 Rupees from the Rajah of Bimlwan, and of Rs. 3000 from 

 Babu Rajendra Mullick. The Committee subsequently associat- 

 ed itself with the Agri-horticultural Society with the view of 

 developing the project into the more extensive one of a public garden, 

 a peoples's park, where not only might the public seek recreation and 

 health, but also have the opportunity of studying natural history and 

 horticulture. It applied to the Government of Bengal for a piece 

 of land for the purpose ; subsequently a deputation from the joint 

 Committees waited on the Lieutenant-Governor and explained their 

 object. It met with a most gracious reception, and Mr. Grey 

 expressing himself generally in concurrence, stated that he had 

 doubts as to its suceess, and as to whether the piece of ground asked 

 for, viz. the Kidderpore property, recently taken over by Government 

 from the Orphan Society, would be given ; but promised to examine 

 the site, and give a reply to the deputation. Up to this time, no 

 answer has been received : but the Committee feel satisfied that this as 



