204 Miscellaneous* 
aided by several country gentlemen and coal-owners of the neighbourhood, 
the present " Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, and New 
castle-upon-Tyne" soon sprang into existence ; the Duke of Northumberland con- 
senting to accept the office of Patron, and the Bishop of Durham that of Presi- 
dent. A proposal was made to the Literary and Philosophical Society to pur- 
chase their museum as the nucleus of the new collection, which being declined, 
the Natural History Society, unwilling to establish a museum in opposition to 
that of the old institution, after some little difficulties in the negociation, came 
to an agreement with the Literary and Philosophical Society to take charge of 
and arrange its collection along with that about to be formed, and in consideration 
of an annual payment to allow its members and their friends free access to the 
museum. The bond of union was still further cemented of the purchase by the 
Natural History Society of apiece of ground adjoining the other society's build- 
ing, on which has been erected a handsome museum. This has been connected 
by a short gallery with the library of the Literary and Philosophical Society, the 
whole forming an elegant suite of rooms. The present museum, which was 
opened in December 1834, contains an excellent collection of British birds, em- 
bracing, with the rarities of the Allan Collection, a series of beautiful recent 
specimens, preserved by the curator, M. R. R. Wingate, in a very superior style, 
and with a minute attention to the anatomy and habits of the birds. Associat- 
ed with these is a collection of their eggs. Of foreign birds there is a good and 
rapidly increasing collection. The Mammalia and fishes are not numerous, but 
among the latter are a few curious and rare species ; and a noble specimen of the 
polar bear, admirably set up, is conspicuous among the former. It may be suf- 
ficient to say of the other departments of zoology that the collections are very 
respectable, particularly those of shells, insects, and corals. An entire room is 
appropriated to geology, and contains an excellent collection of fossils, in which 
the fossil plants of the coal formation hold a conspicuous place. A very fine 
collection of minerals, the property of Mr Hutton, is deposited in the museum 
for exhibition. Nearly the whole of the collections are now arranged according 
to the most approved modern systems not forgetting, at the same time, such 
a disposition of the different parts as may make the whole agreeable to the 
eye of taste. It is to be regretted that there are as yet no specimens of compa- 
rative anatomy in this museum. This branch of study is becoming daily more 
important, on account of its use in the natural classification of animals. We hope, 
therefore, that some of the young students of anatomy connected with this town 
will endeavour to supply the deficiency. 
The society has now been in existence six years, and consists of between two 
and three hundred members. It holds meetings monthly, excepting in the sum- 
mer quarter, when there is a recess. From the papers readat these meetings two 
volumes of Transactions have been published.* As might be expected in a dis- 
trict of great mining importance, the principal part of the papers are geological. 
Many of these contain very valuable information connected with the operations 
of mining. The articles on Zoology and Botany are chiefly descriptive of local 
species. Among them are the following papers On the Birds of Northumber- 
land by P. J. Selby, Esq on the Zoophytes of Berwick Bay by Dr Johnston 
on the land and fresh water Mollusca of the neighbourhood of Newcastle by Mr 
Alder, and a Flora of Northumberland and Durham, by Mr Winch. In con - 
nection with this subject it may be permitted us to mention Lindley and Hut- 
* A new volume is nearly ready for press. 
