12 
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR 1908. 
The Observatory. —The Equatorial Telescope is in very 
good condition, especially as Mr. Scott took it apart and 
cleaned it up in August last. The old Sheepshanks’ instru¬ 
ment, which had been lent to the Scientific Department of the 
Franco British Exhibition last year, is back again in its 
place. 
Ornithology.— The collections have had several additions 
made to them during the past year, both with regard to stuffed 
specimens and skins, and also to the aviaries in the gardens; 
a large part of the line collection of skins of European birds, 
presented by Mr. James Backhouse some years ago, has been 
overhauled and re-cleaned by the Curator. 
Zoology. — Additions continue to be made both to the 
collection of skins of British mammals, and also to the series 
of stuffed specimens of the smaller species of Yorkshire 
mammals, several rare and interesting specimens having been 
presented to the Society during the past year. The fine 
collections of mammal skeletons and preserved freshwater 
fish are in excellent condition. 
Field Naturalists’ Section. —The Committee of this 
section is pleased to report that the affairs of the section are in 
a most flourishing condition. We have to thank the Council 
of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society for stepping into the 
breach at a critical moment of our career, and by their able 
support assisting us to carry through a scheme of re-construction 
that has proved most satisfactory in its working. Old members 
have inscribed their names for re-election, so that in eleven 
months the membership of the York and District Field 
Naturalists’ Section of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society is 
only eight names short of the number upon the roll before the 
re-construction took place. Your Committee are confident the 
step taken has in every way proved to have been a wise one 
that will result in the extension of the interest in our work 
already shewn by a large number of local Naturalists. 
During the Summer of 1908, excursions were arranged to 
work certain grounds within a twenty-mile radius of York, the 
various sections represented undertaking to verify the lists of 
