Report of the Council

Breadalbane has given us a splendid pair of Capercailzies, bred upon his Lordship's domain at Taymouth Castle.

Our collection of British Fishes has been enriched by an unusually large specimen of the Short Sun Fish, caught upon the Yorkshire Coast.

Mr. Edward

Our friend and fellow-townsman Atkinson, has presented us with a fine Skull and Horns of the Syrian Ibex, a specimen of the Aspalax of Syria, together with several Reptiles and Insects from Palestine. The latter are especially interesting as illustrating the extensive Geographical distribution of many species, well known as indigenous in the British Islands.

A second exploration of the Dowkerbottom Cave, in which our curator Mr. Denny, discovered so many objects of interest last year, has been made by Mr. James Farrer, M.P., of Ingleborough House, during the recess. Several additional Antiquarian Relics, both British and Roman, were thus obtained; also some curious animal remains. The most valuable of the latter was a portion of the Skull and Horns of a mature Roebuck, which exhibits the first specimen on record of that ruminant having occurred in a fossil state in Yorkshire.

An accession to our shell collection has been received as a donation from Rear Admiral Sir Edward Belcher. Those from the Arctic Regions, are especially interesting.

The other minor additions to the Museum are too numerous to notice in this Report, especially as they will appear in detail in the usual annual list of donations.

LIBRARY.

The principal additions to the Library by donations during the past year, consist of "Reports of the British Association for the Advancement of Science," 26 vols., 8vo. Presented by the Council of that body.

The "Geology of Pensylvania and Government Survey by Professor H. D. Rogers," a very expensive book, 3 vols., 4to. Presented by our liberal friend Mr. John Rhodes.

Pitisci's "Lexicon Antiquitatum Romanorum." Presented by our old friend Mr. William Boyne.

The "Meteorological Papers." Published by authority of the Board of Trade, 1846-61. Presented by Rear Admirable Fitzroy.

"Magnetic and Meteorological Observations at St. Helena," 1846 to 1859. Presented to us by the Government.

The Proceedings of the Academies of Stockholm, Philadelphia, and St. Louis. The Transactions of the

"American Philosophical Society," "Boston Natural History Society," and various Literary and Scientific Societies of Great Britain and Ireland.

last

These contributions however are not so numerous as

year, but when the projected alterations in our building shall have been completed, and the Society become possessed of a spacious room for that purpose, it is to be hoped that a large increase will also take place in this important department of our Institution, and that the present valuable collection which is now available for the use of our members, (under certain necessary restrictions,) may become a respectable nucleus of a good scientific Library of reference. The establishment of such a Library has long been urgently required by the Members of our Society. We therefore earnestly trust that our friends will remember that donations of books of this class, will be usefully bestowed, and gratefully acknowledged.

From the Meteorological Register kept at the Hall the following abstract is derived, to show the monthly averages for the past year:

The greatest degree of Heat, as indicated by the Thermometer, in the sun was 108°, on the 8th of July; greatest in the shade 78°, on the 9th of July.

The greatest Barometric pressure was on the 13th of February, 30.600 inches, the temperature of the Mercury being 48°. The least pressure was on the 24th of January, 28.430, the temperature of the Mercury, 52°.

The greatest fall of Rain was on the 27th of May, being .660.

LEEDS PHILOSOPHICAL AND LITERARY SOCIETY,

FROM MAY 18, 1860, TO MAY 1, 1881.