110 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. II., PART I. 



" To ensure the proper preservation of the Birds, Animals, &c, 

 transmitted, a taxidermist has been engaged, and is expected from 

 Calcutta, where he was attached to the Museum of the H. E. I. 

 Company, and a suitable case for the objects provided: these 

 expenses are to be borne by a subscription called the " Museum 

 Fund," which has been opened for the express purpose, and is 

 supported by donations or small monthly subscriptions, 



"The number of donors to this fund is at present 11, of 

 subscribers 29 ; the amount of donations and yearly subscriptions 

 is, received and promised, about £40. Many of the subscribers 

 are in no way connected with the Society. Although your 

 Committee are sanguine as to the success of the Museum, they 

 have deeply to regret the want of proper accommodation for it, 

 which results from sharing the room occupied by the Loan Board, 

 and presents an almost fatal obstacle to its advancement. As a 

 means of aiding the Secretary, who cannot be expected to be 

 technically acquainted with the many and various objects likely to 

 flow into the Museum, several gentlemen, well fitted to the task, 

 have kindly consented to arrange and supervise the materials in 

 the several departments, thereby lightening the labours of that 

 oflicer and ensuring correctness. 



Evening Meetings. 

 " Your Committee advert with entire satisfaction to the Evening; 

 Meetings held monthly for the free discussion of subjects connected 

 with the labours of this Society. At these, several highly 

 instructive topics have been discussed, and much knowledge gained 

 in the Native Practice of Medicine, the Native Pottery Works, 

 and of the Sinhalese Hemp : inquiries have also by the same 

 means been directed to the introduction of the Mulberry and Silk- 

 worm {Bombyx mori), the Cultivation of the Indigenous Silk- 

 spinning Larvae and wild Bees, and to the Mineral Resources of 

 the Island, &c. 



Quarterly Meetings. 

 " The following Papers have been read at the several Quarterly 

 Meetings of the Society, showing the various fields to which the 

 labours of their contributors have been directed i — 



