Report for 1886. 99 



of the long* barrow of most ancient date. Another point to which 

 the special attention of the Society has been directed this year has 

 been the present unsatisfactory state of Stonehenge, and the sug- 

 gestions it offers for the protection of the monument which all 

 Wiltshire claims as its own, but as the deputation sent to examine 

 it has drawn up a special report on this subject, to be presented this 

 day to the Society, no further reference need be made to it here. 

 The Museum has been much enriched by the purchase, by means of 

 special subscription, of the magnificent collection of fossils formed 

 by Mr. G. E. and the late Mr. S. W. Sloper, of Devizes. These, 

 which have been secured to the Society by the exertions of our 

 indefatigable Curator, Mr. Henry Cunnington, and his brother, are 

 described by them as of very great local interest and value. We 

 may, therefore, congratulate ourselves on their acquisition without 

 drawing at all on the funds of the Society. Other additions to the 

 Museum have been a handsome collection of Palaeolithic flint im- 

 plements, presented by Dr. Stevens ; a good specimen of an Egyptian 

 mummy, recently brought to England and presented by Mr. James 

 Hadow, and a desk seal of the Tropenell family, already alluded to 

 as given by the late Mr. Arthur Gore. The Library has also re- 

 ceived several additions, notably the History of the Malet Family, 

 given by Sir Alexander Malet. Of the financial position of the 

 Society it is unnecessary to speak, as the balance sheet for the last 

 year has just been issued with the new number of the Magazine, 

 showing a balance in hand at the beginning of the year of about 

 £100. Your Committee cannot close this report without expressing 

 the hope that the Local Secretaries, each in his own locality, will 

 endeavour to enlist the support of new Members to replace the 

 many losses we have sustained of late ; and they further trust that 

 new workers will be found to carry on the work of the Society, as 

 those who have hitherto laboured for it are one by one taken away. 

 There is yet a large field of observation in every department of 

 natural history, as well as in archseology, in this county, the exami- 

 nation of which has only begun ; but it is hoped that diligent en- 

 quirers will arise, who shall prosecute their researches and not cease 

 from their labours till the ancient as well as the natural history of 



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