78 Annual Report and Transactions of the Plymouth Institution 
during the past year of specimens of the Spinous Shark (Echi- 
norhinus spinosus j, Tunny (Thy nnus vulgaris y, Couch's Wrasse, and 
Dolphin ( Cottiis hubalis ), and of the skeleton of a Porpoise 
prepared by Mr. Mac Lachlan. He suggests that efforts be made 
to improve the collection of British birds, which is so imperfect 
in species that several common ones are unrepresented, and as 
regards the specimens themselves, many are so old, damaged, and 
wretchedly stuffed, that they disgrace the Museum. Fragments of 
an altar, dedicated to Dionysus and Demeter, found in Cilicia, 
have been presented to the Society by the Rev. J. B. Howe and 
Lieut. Sanders, of H. M. Dockyard. It is believed by the Curator 
of Antiquities to be probably of a date not later than B.C. 200. 
In the Library little has been done to call for special remark. 
The completion of imperfect sets has been still kept in view, and 
the following books have been added : — 
Zoological Kecord, 2 vols. 
Newman's Ornithological Dictionary. 
Froude's History of England, vols. ix. and x. 
Denmark in the Iron Age, by Englehardt. 
British Bees. 
Phipson on Meteors. 
Barnes's Grammar and Glossary of the Dorset Dialect. 
During the past year the Town Council of Plymouth united 
with this Society in requesting that the British Association would 
visit this town in the year ] 868, and there is very little doubt that 
the invitation will be accepted in either that or the following year. 
Your Secretaries are confident that whenever the visit takes place 
the members of the Plymouth Institution will give the Association 
a hearty welcome, and use every endeavour to make the meeting a 
successful one. 
Appended to this Report will be found a continuation of the 
INIeteorological Register, by Mr. John Merrifield, F.R.A.S., pub- 
lished in the last Report. 
J. BEOOKING KOWE, 
JOHN SHELLY, 
