6 
REPORT OF 
less a sum than <^84. The justification of this step will be 
best fflven bv reference to the collection of birds, now con- 
taining 1200 prepared specimens,—to the geological mu¬ 
seum,-—and the list of new members ; for it was from this 
source that the Council derived encouragement to do this 
year what it is to be hoped may often be repeated. 
Notwithstanding these large expenses, the balance against 
the Society on the general account is reduced by nearly ; 
but on the other hand the deficiency on the account of the 
Manor Shore has been augmented <^32. This arises from 
causes which there is no rashness in saying will not be repeated. 
In relinquishing to the members whom you may choose 
for the following year, the further governance of the Society’s 
affairs, the Council wishes to point out how far the proceedings 
of the past year or existing circumstances are likely to in¬ 
fluence the adoption of particular measures. 
There is no reason to expect that larger pecuniary means 
will be at the disposal of the new Council, than those which 
have been expended in 1837 5 they will probably have to 
bear some considerable charges: it will be requisite, therefore, 
to avoid all unnecessary outlay. 
An arrangement has been made for the purchase of Mr. 
Allis’s whole collection of skeletons and other preparations 
of birds, &c., on terms more advantageous than would have 
been accorded to any other purchaser. 
Anatomical preparations of animals have always been found 
of the highest importance in zoology. Upon this solid foun¬ 
dation Cuvier rested his knowledge and secured his fame. 
Of such preparations none are more popularly attractive, or 
philosophically valuable, than the skeletons of vertebral ani¬ 
mals. In lectures before the Society, their utility has been 
abundantly manifest, both in illustrating the habits of living 
races, and decyphering the monuments of ancient nature. 
Mr. Allis’s extensive and beautiful series of skeletons has 
been declared by competent judges to be one of the most con- 
