COUNCIL FOE 1854 . 
9 
occurrence of the remains of Mammalia in the Oolitic strata at 
Stonesfield, a subject of special interest to the members of this 
Society, from the circumstance that a fossil in our Museum, 
obtained from those strata,* occupies so prominent a place in a 
controversy upon this subject made famous by its association 
with the names of Owen, Agassiz, De Blainville, and other dis¬ 
tinguished authorities in the field of Palteontological science. 
In the Zoological department of the Museum, the Council 
have again to notice the continued interest in the prosperity of 
the Society taken by Mr. Clark of Cincinnati. The suite of 
North American Shells due to the liberality of Mr. Clark, now 
forms one of the most beautiful and prominent features of the 
Museum, and the value of the collection has been greatly 
enhanced by a manuscript catalogue stating the localities and 
other information, which Mr. Clark has drawn up at the 
suggestion of the Keeper of the Museum. 
The Society is indebted to the same benefactor for the addition 
to our Ichthyological collection of a very remarkable Fish, of 
which but few examples have reached this Country, the 
Polyodon folium of Lacepede, commonly known in America as 
the “Paddle-fish” or “ Spoon-bill Sturgeon.” Mr. Clark has 
also presented two very choice specimens of the Lepidosteus 
or Gar-fisli, of the American rivers, a species less rare than the 
Polyodon, but nevertheless a particularly acceptable acquisition 
to the Society, the Lepidostei being almost the only existing 
Fishes furnished with resplendent enamelled scales, a structure 
constantly met with among Fossil Species and well exemplified 
by the Lepidotus, &c., of the Whitby Lias. 
Two very valuable local additions have been made to the 
collection of British Birds, namely, a little Bustard, shot at 
Goodmanham, and presented by the Rev. Wm. Blow, jun., and 
a specimen of Bewick’s Swan, shot at Bub with, mounted at the 
expense of the Naturalists’ Club, and presented by the Com¬ 
mittee. A fine example of the Crowned Crane has been given 
to the Foreign Collection of Birds by II. S. Thompson, Esq., of 
Moat Hall. 
* Exhibited in Case No. 25 of the Geological room, and labelled u Fossil jaw of 
Quadruped from Stonesfield, presented by the Eey. C. Sykes.” 
