12 
REPORT OF THE 
interesting race between a Continental express train and a 
carrier pigeon from Dover to London. The bird was tossed 
from a carriage window as the train left the Admiralty Pier. 
The train got np speed of 60 miles an hoim and proceeded to 
Cannon Street without stopping. The pigeon was “housed” 
in a building in Cannon Street. It took the direct route 
probably, saving about half-a-mile in the whole distance of 
76 J miles, and beat the train by 20 minutes or time allowance 
of 18 miles. 
Two specimens of the Hoopoe (Upupa epops), one at Summer 
Lodge, Eichmond, and the other at Tockwith, have been killed 
during the year; and a white Starling at Holtby. 
The Curator of Comparative Anatomy reports that though a 
large amount of valuable material which had not previously 
been shewn to the public has been placed in the cases for 
exhibition, much still remains to be dealt with. 
The skeleton of the Irish Elk, one of the most valuable 
specimens in the collection, the mounting of which was cum¬ 
brous and unsatisfactory, is now nearly completely remounted 
in a most satisfactory manner. It will be placed in the centre 
of the new Ethnological gallery in close proximity to the Flint 
implements and other remains of pre-historic man vdth which 
it was contemporary. The rest of the collection is now in 
process of re-arrangement, with a view to the incorporation of 
the still available material and the more effective display of the 
whole. 
Mr. Wakefield reports:—The past year will be remembered 
as being remarkable for barometric disturbances, great winds, 
and an excessive rainfall, although the results are almost the 
exact means of the observations of half a century, in regard 
to atmospheric pressure and temperatee. 
On January 1st a severe storm swept over the country, 
striking the southern coasts first and seriously damaging the 
Admiralty Pier at Dover, and the Promenade Piers at Brighton 
and Eastbourne, but doing little damage in the northern 
counties. Two others had been recorded, one, which might be 
