8 
REPORT OE THE 
In tlie Museum the principal progress to be noticed consists 
in the establishment of an Ethnographical room, wliich will 
shortly be opened, for the exhibition of a considerable series 
of dresses, weapons, and other articles, illustrative of the habits 
and mode of life of various tribes of mankind, which have been 
for many years accumulating in the Society’s possession. 
The great interest which in the present day attaches to all 
matters connected with the science of Ethnology induced the 
Council to repair the cases from which the Eudston collection 
of British Birds was removed some years ago for the reception 
of these objects, and although the collection is very imperfect in 
its range, it will be found highly interesting even in its present 
condition. The principal object of a collection of this kind, in 
a scientific point of view, is the illustration of the habits of our 
remote ancestors by the comparison of those articles of their 
manufactm’e which have come down to us, with those employed 
by savage nations in the present day, and the tracing of rela¬ 
tions between the latter by the comparative study of their 
artistic and industrial products. To render such a collection 
really useful it shordd be as complete as possible, and the 
Council hope that those Members who may have the oppoidunity 
of procuring weapons or manufactured articles, especially of 
the savage tribes of mankind, will endeavour to secure them 
for the Museum. 
The Curator of Antiquities reports : ‘‘ Among the additions 
made during the past year to the antiquarian department of the 
Museum, the first place in importance must be assigned to the 
contents of some British Barrows at AiTas and Hessleskew, 
presented by the Eev. E. W. Stillingfleet. They are the fruit 
of excavations undertaken by Mr. Stillingfieet in the years 
1815, 1816, and 1817, and having remained in his possession 
till the time when he consigned them to the care of our 
Society, their genuineness is unquestionable. From one of these 
Barrows, containing a female skeleton, a nimiber of female 
ornaments have been derived, which Mr. Stillingfieet has added 
to his donation, along 'with the contents of a Saxon tumulus at 
Kilham. A detailed account of these antiquities will be foimd in 
the Keport of Communications to the Monthly Meetings dining 
