J.*: • r •* WW ill Mil nsq^is, um^i s-r/viK,; \ ,J : ;• ■ > ' ■I I %■ h,. t. k-. t"' i ' h t r ANNUAL REPORT FOR MDCCCXLII. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE YORKSHIRE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, FOR MDCCCXLII. PRESENTED TO THE ANNUAL MEETING, FEBRUARY 7, 1843. YORK: RICHARD BURDEKIN, 16, HIGH-OUSEG ATE. 1843. T K U S T E E S OF THE YORKSHIRE MUSEUM, APPOINTED BY THE ROYAL GRANT. HIS GRACE, EDWARD, LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. GEORGE, EARL OF CARLISLE, K.G. CHARLES WILLIAM, EARL FITZWILLIAM, F.R.S., F.S.A. THOMAS PHILIP, EARL DE GREY. HON. AND VERY REV. HENRY HOWARD, D.D., DEAN OF LICHFIELD. SIR WILLIAM LAWSON, BART., F.S.A. FRANCIS CHOLMELEY, ESQ., F.S.A. ROBERT DENISON, ESQ. REV. WILLIAM VERNON HARCOURT, F.R.S, WILLIAM HATFEILD, ESQ., F.G.S. RICHARD JOHN THOMPSON, ESQ. PATKONESSES OP THE ¥0rB:^!ltw HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. Her Royal Highness The DUCHESS OF KENT. PATEONS. HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. EARL OF CARLISLE, K.G. EARL FITZWILLIAM, F.R.S. EARL OF TYRCONNEL, F.R.S. THE VISCOUNT MORPETH. THE LORD STOURTON. THE LORD WHARNCLIFFE. THE LORD FEVERSHAM. THE LORD WENLOCK. OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY, 1843. PRESIDENT: Earl Fitzwilliam, F.R.S. VICE-PRESIDENTS : Stephen Beckwith, M.D. Rev. Stephen Creyke. W. D. T. Duesbery. George Goldie, M.D. Sir J. V. B. Johnstone, Bart, M.P. Rev. Wm. Vernon Harcourt, F.R.S. Wi LLIAM HaTFEILD, F.G.S. Rev. Charles Wellbeloved, TREASURER: Robert Davies, F.S.A. COUNCIL: Elected .... Rev. T. Egerton, F.G.S. Rev. W. Hey, W. D. Littledale, W. F. Rawdon, M.D. Elected 1842 . . . James Allen, John Phillips, F.R.S., G.S. Henry Robinson, Wm. Whytehead. Elected 1843 .... James Barber, Captain Bentham, Rev. John Graham, Rev. John Kenrick. SECRETARY: Thomas Meynell, Jun, F.L.S. A 3 VI OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. CURATORS: NATURAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT. Geology Mineralogy Zoology — Vertebrata Annulosa Mollusca and-\ ZoOPHYTA j Comparative Anatomy . . Botany — General British J. Phillips, F.R.S.jG.S. W. Hatfeild, F.G.S. T. MeynelLjJUn.F.L.S. Thomas Allis. Wm. D. H USBAND. O. A. Moore. Antiquities Library and MSS. Laboratory Observatory .. Meteorological Instrusi. Rev. C. Wellbeloved. Joseph Munby. T. H. Barker. W.L.NewmaNjF.R.AsI.S. John Ford. SUB-CURATOR OF THE MUSEUM: Henry Baines. Those departments, for which no Curators are specially named, are considered to be under the direction of the Secretary and the Sub-Curator. YOEKSHIRE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL TO THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY ON THE 7th OF FEBRUARY, 18 3 In presenting their Annual Report, the Council cannot refrain from congratulating the Society on its increasing prosperity. From the large amount of debt with which it has hitherto had to contend, it has barely been able to devote any portion of its funds to the attainment of those objects for which the Society was originally established, viz. : “ the promotion of science in the District for which it has been instituted.” The Council are, however, willing to hope that brighter days are in store ; and judging from the experience of the two last years, confidently look forward to the time when they will be relieved from those embarrassments which have hitherto beset them. Former Reports have made the Society acquainted with the manner in which the debt has been incurred : it will only be neces¬ sary at the present time to draw the attention of the Meeting to the present state of the Society’s finances. The Balance due to Messrs. Swann & Co., on the 31st of Decem¬ ber, 1841, was £1321. 11^. 8c?. That balance has been reduced during the last twelve months to £1 093. lO^. 11c?., being a reduction of £228. 05. ^d. In addition to this the Society has been called upon to repay to the Executors of the late Mr. Wolstenholme the 8 REPORT OF THE sum of £50., lent to it by that gentleman, so that the total debt of the Society has been reduced to the extent of £278. O5. 9c?., or from £5171. II5. 8c?., the amount on the 31st of December, 1841* to £4893. IO5. 11c?., the present debt. Notwithstanding the large reduction in the liabilities of the Society, which the Council have been enabled to effect, amounting, during the last two years, to above £500, they have, owing to several fortuitous circumstances, had it in their power to expend a considerable sum in general repairs, as well as in the construction of New Cases for the Mineralogical Collection, which Collection will forthwith be removed into the Geological room. A sum of £41. Is. 9c?. has been paid to the Treasurer, by the Managers of the County Ball, held in 1839, the proceeds of which were to be applied to the repairs of the Hospitium. The Council deeming it incumbent upon them to appropriate this sum to the object for which it was intended, entered into contracts for the repairing and laying new joists to support the floor of the upper room, and likewise for glazing the upper windows of the building. When the work, however, came to be entered upon, several other repairs to the walls, &c., were found necessary, which compelled them rather to exceed the amount which was paid to them for the purpose. As a proof of the increasing interest the public take in the Museum and Grounds, may be mentioned the fact, that nearly two thousand Strangers have during the past year paid for admissions to the Gardens, the proceeds from which, after deducting the attendant expenses, amount to the sum of £86. Is. 6c?. In 1841 the amount received was £63. 14s. 6c?. and in the previous year 1840 only £50. Gratuitous admission was granted to the Public on Whit Monday and Tuesday, when the Gardens and Museum were as usual crowded with visitors ; and the Council have the satisfaction of stating that the utmost order and regularity prevailed, and that the Collections were in no wise injured, notwithstanding the crowded state of the rooms. In accordance with the recommendation of the last Annual Meeting, the Council welcomed the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, by granting to its Members the free use of the Theatre, for the delivery of a lecture by the Curator of the Laboratory, upon Agricultural Chemistry, COUNCIL FOR 1842. 9 The Annual Horticultural Fete, under the judicious Management of a Committee of the Members of the Society, took place on the third of August, and afforded the highest gratification to the inha¬ bitants of the City, as well as to the numerous Country families, who were drawn hither by the Meeting of the Agricultural Society. Favoured by a propitious day, the attendance was more numerous than on any former occasion, and the receipts, after deducting the necessary expenses, amounted to about £115. This casual accession of income has enabled the Council to comnlete the laying: out of the grounds near the Hospitium, and to form the drain there ; a work which had long been considered almost absolutely necessary. In addition to this, the Gardens have been generally improved, and the stock of Plants greatly increased. An improvement has been effected in the Hothouse, by which that building has been made more available to the healthy growth of the valuable Collection of Orchideous Plants, now possessed by the Society, and which has been considerably increased by donations during the past year. Encouraged by the general prospect of the Society’s finances, and looking to the continued success of future Horticultural exhibitions, the Council hope to be enabled to render the Gardens still more attractive. The . Geological Collection has been enriched by the donation of several hundred examples of Organic Remains, and the Council have more pleasure in announcing this fact, because these additions are exactly in those parts of the series of Paleozoic organization, which are at this moment of special Geological interest, and which were imperfectly represented in the Cabinets. The contributions to * the Silurian series from North America, through the continued kind¬ ness of Mr. Jos. Clarke of Cincinnati, are extremely important, and contain many very interesting forms of Polypiaria, Crinoidea, Con- chifera. Cephalopoda, and Crustacea. Mr. Hatfeild, whose travels into remote parts of the world have always been the means of enriching the Museum, in which he has laboured when at home, has sent a choice selection of Organic Remains from the Silurian, Carboniferous, and Cretaceous groups of the United States, ex¬ hibiting on the whole a marked general analogy with the contem¬ poraneous forms imbedded in European Strata, and, at the same time, those lesser differences and variations of structure which are B 10 REPO-RT OF THE often observed between both the extinct and the livinsr creations of America and Europe. Taken in connexion with prior contributions from the same regions, by Mr. Wortley, Mr. Stapylton, and the Rev. C. V. Harcourt, with the Norwegian Specimens gathered by Mr. Bilton and Mr. Hatfeild, the student will find in the Yorkshire Museum the means of investigating some of the most general questions at present under discussion, regarding the nature and distiibution of the most ancient forms of animal life. For the same purpose, the large series of Fishes from the Old Red Sandstone of Morayshire, presented by Mr. Stephenson, may be consulted with advantage. Placed only one step higher in the scale of stratification, only one Geological period later, this group of extinct fishes, — Pterichthys, Coccosteus, Cheirolepis, &c., — has no representative in the older Silurian, nor yet in the more recent Carboniferous rocks ; nor, except by distant and faint analogies with existing fishes, can their obscure and mysterious structures be reduced to modern laws of organization, explained by the knowledge acquired through the study of existing animals. Mr. Weaver has conferred on the Society an additional obligation, by extending the series of specimens from the Tortworth district, so as to make it include the Liassic and Oolitic Strata, as far upward as the Portland Stone. The New Cases just completed will permit an improvement in the exhibition of the Minerals, which has been long desirable, and of expanding to double its present extent the collection of recent Invertebrata. The Collection of Vertebrated Animals has likewise been enriched by some valuable donations ; amongst which may be enumerated collections of the Skins of Birds, from North America by Mr. Hatfeild, from Australia by Mr. James Backhouse, and from South America by the Rev. W. V. Harcourt. The Collections of Comparative Osteology have been entirely re¬ arranged ; the Ornithological Specimens have been placed in the Gallery of the Zoological Room, where they are better displayed and rendered more available to the student, than in the room they previously occupied. The Mammalia and Reptiles have likewise been removed from their former locality, and placed in a more commodious room, where they are exhibited to greater advantage than heretofore. The Council hear with satisfaction that it is the intention of the COUNCIL FOn 1S42. li Curator of this department, to present the Society with sonle valuable additions during the ensuing year. Some additions have likewise been made to the Annulosa, by the presentation of several rare Foreign Insects, by the Rev. Francis Orpen Morris, and to the British Coleoptera, by the Rev. Wm. tiincks. The Collection of Foreign Insects has been entirely re¬ arranged, and named, as far as the Books to which the Curator has had access, have enabled him ; and the Collections generallv are in a good state of preservation. But that w'hich specially claims the notice of the Society, is the donation of a valuable Collection of British Crustacea, from S. Hailstone, Esq. This Collection was formed by his son, the late Samuel Flailstone, Jun., Esq., and, at the particular request of the donor, is to be preserved as a distinct Cabinet, under the denomi¬ nation of the “Hailstone Collection,” as a just tribute the memory of the Collector. To the Collection of Mollusca and Zoophyta, several donations have also been received. In the Botanical department, the diligent Curator of British Botany has been engaged in completing the arrangement of the British Herbarium. This is in a good state of preservation, and he confidently hopes to be enabled during the present year, to render this portion of the Museum available to the instruction of those who are practical admirers of our indigenous Flora. In speaking of this department, your Council are painfully re¬ minded that, within the last few’ weeks, the Botanists of this country have lost from amongst their number one of the most indefatigable and distinguished private Naturalists of the last half century ; — the friend of the late Sir James Edward Smith and of Professor Hooker, and one of the founders of the Society’s Botanical Collection. The large and valuable Herbarium, containing many Specimens from the Authors of the English and British Floras, is a sufficient monument to the merits, as a naturalist, of the late Rev. James Dalton, of Croft : and the Council have the pleasure of stating, that through the liberality of his son, J. Dalton, Esq., the Collection of Lichens of his late lamented Father, is now presented to the Society’s Museum. The Society has iikewfise to regret the loss of W. Middleton, Esq., one of the earliest contributors to the Botanical Collection. The additions to the Antiquarian Collections have consistc 12 REPORT OF THE Pi chiefly of coins ; distinguished indeed by their number, but not in general by any great intrinsic value or rarity. Some however are undoubted remains of Eboracum. The most interesting are a very small portion of a vast hoard of Northumbrian Stycas, accidentally discovered in the month of April last, by some workmen employed in the erection of the De Grey Rooms, in St. Leonard’s Place. They had probably been enclosed in a wooden box and buried near the foot of the rampart of the Roman Wall ; but the wood had perished, and the coins were at first scarcely to be distinguished from the surrounding earth. As usual in such cases they quickly became the prey of the workmen, and were dispersed. Several hundreds have happily been recovered and rendered legible b}?’ the per¬ severing zeal of Mr. John Browne. Of these an accurate descrip¬ tive Catalogue, will, it is hoped soon be completed, containing some very curious matter relating to this peculiar ancient coinage of the North, to which in consequence- of recent discoveries, especially that at Hexham, the attention of Numismatists is now earnestly directed. It is much to be wished that arrangements could be nrade by which this portion of the hoard might be retained in York, and deposited in the Museum, amongst the few relics of “ Eoferwic,” where probably many of these coins were minted. The original deposit is supposed to have contained more than 5000 Stycas, and appears to have been made later than that at Hexham, as the series of kings extends lower, probably to the middle of the ninth century. It is with sincere pleasure the Council have to notice the publication by the Curator of this department, of the result of his diligent researches into the history of Roman York, — a work which was undertaken at the special request of the Council, and v/hich not only embodies, in lucid order, all the authentic in¬ formation now attainable, regarding the traces of Roman sway in “ Eburacum,” but sheds over many previously unconnected facts, the light of extensive learning and philosophical reasoning. The different learned Societies continue to supply the Library with their valuable Transactions ; and several other interesting works have been presented to it. The Council cannot however but regret the absence of many scientific Works, the want of which is severely felt by the Curators of the several departments, during their labours. The Laboratory has been greatly improved under the manage- COUNCIL FOR 1842. \3 ment of its Curator, who, with the permission cf the Council, has continued his Lectures therein to the York School of Medicine, He has likewise delivered a series of highly interesting Lectures on Chemistry, in the Theatre of the Museum, to which the Members of the Society were almost gratuitously admitted;* and the Council feel assured that had they been able to give sufficient publicity to this fact, previous to the commencement of the course, the interesting nature of the subject, and Mr. Barker’s well known talents as a lecturer, would have ensured a more numerous audience. Mr. Addams w^as likewise engag-ed bv the Council, and delivered three most interesting lectures on the Electric Telegraph of Professor Wheat¬ stone and on the Solidification of Carbonic-Acid Gas. The Observatory has undergone several repairs during the past year ; the usual Observations have been persevered in with diligence, and several interesting phenomena noted. A new Barometer and Thermometer have been placed therein by the liberality of the Curator, who Contemplates the delivery of a few Lectures in the course of the present year, the proceeds to be applied in improving the instrumental power of the Observatory. Following out the suggestions of the Council, as contained in the last Report, the Curator of Meteorological Instruments has made thirty-six Horary Observations, during the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes, and the Summer and Winter Solstices ; andM. Quetelet, of Brussels, has confessed the importance of them, in a letter ad¬ dressed to the Council, in acknowledgement of the receipt of those for the Vernal Equinox. From these observations the following results have been deduced, viz. : Vernal Equinox, Mean of 24 Obs, 36.‘^79 occurring bet. 8 and 9 a.m. and 7 & 8 p.m. Summer Solstice . 24 ... . 6I.®87 . 7 and 8 a.m. and 6 and 7 p.m. Autumnal Equinox .... 24 ... . 48.®00 . at 10 a.m. and at 7 p.m. Winter Solstice . 24 .... 49.®33 between 10 and 1 1 a.m. and not again. The Curator has likewise continued his register of the Meteorological Phenomena at York, of which the subjoined Table gives the annual results : — * 2s. only being charged by the Council for a ticket of admission to the twelve lectures, to defray the cost of lighting, attendance, &c. u REPORT OF THE METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER— YORK, 1S42. Barometer. Rain. Thermometer. Nights at or below 32o. Rainy days, j more or less, [ Mean. Highest. Lowest. Inches. Mean Maximum. Mean Minimum. 0 Z rt k. Highest Range. Lowest. Jan. 30.04 30.57 28.76 2.20 34.5 27 30.7 40 6 29 7 Feb. 29.94 30.55 29.16 .64 42.7 30.9 36.8 53 25 20 8 March 29.85 30.34 29.22 2.15 48.9 35 41.9 55 30 12 16 April 30.18 30.46 29.24 .39 55.7 33 44.5 66 23 17 0 May 29.94 30.56 29.19 2.39 61.4 42 51.7 69 35 0 16 June 30.07 30.41 29..50 1.91 68.6 48.9 58.8 76 40 0 8 July 29.98 30.43 29.60 3.32 66 49 0 / ,0 74 40 0 9 Aug. 30.09 30.68 29.68 1.86 71 .533 62 82 41 0 10 Sepf. 29.86 30.34 29.32 2.73 62.6 47 54.8 69 38 0 15 Oct. 29.92 30.47 28.95 .93 50.2 36.5 43.3 62 27 10 6 Nov. 29.65 30.50 28.80 2.83 44.9 35.2 40 56 30 10 17 Dec. 30.00 30.47 29.30 .42 48.6 38.1 43.4 58 27 9 1 1 ' 29.96 - 21.77 47.1 107 125 Mean hei £?ht Total Rain. for the Year. At the last Annual Meeting, the Council were authorized to present an invitation to the British Association for the advancement of Science, to hold their Meeting for 1843, in this City, provided they saw reason to believe sufficient money could be raised for defraying the attendant expenses. In compliance with this resolution, the Council lost no time in making application to the Members of this Society and to the Friends of Science connected with the County, for their support, and finding that ample funds might be depended upon, they appointed a deputation of their body to attend, and present the invitation to the Meeting at Manchester. The invitation was presented, but owing to urgent solicitations on the part of the inhabitants of Cork, the Association determined that its next Annual Meeting should be held in that City. The Council, however, have strong reason to hope, that should the present Meeting authorize them to renew their invitation, for the Association to meet in York in 1844, that body will be induced to accept it ; and we shall once more have the high honor and gratification of welcoming within our walls, a Society which had its origin amongst us, and which may now be iustlv considered as the first and most influential body of Natura- lists and Philosophers the world can boast. THE TREASURER OF THE YORKSHIRE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, IN ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR 1842. Dr. 1842. £. s. d. 1842. Annual Subscriptions and AiTcars 580 0 0 Peiananent Debt, viz. £. s. €l. Admission of New Members . 85 0 0 Yorkshire Insurance Donation from Miss Lloyd . 20 0 0 Company . 2500 0 0 Ladies’ Subscriptions, and Keys of Wm. Gray, Esq . 1000 0 0 the Gai den . 50 10 0 Seven Members at 50/. 350 0 0 Tickets at Is. each . 86 1 6 Kents . 107 9 6 Balance overch’awn Use of Tent . 15 0 0 Messrs. Swann & Co. Proceeds of the County Ball, 1839, Dec. 34, 1841. . • • for the repairs of the Hospitium 41 1 9 Crown Rents . 0 6 Horticultural Exhibition . 117 5 11 Corporation Kents . . . . 6 12 6 Mr. Addams’s Lectures . 13 9 0 Insurance . 0 0 Mr. Baker’s Lectures . . 3 5 0 Gate Keeper . . 11 0 0 Ninety copies of “ G-uide to the Collector. . . . . 5 0 0 Museum” . . . . . . 1 17 6 Tnterpst. . . . . 1 0 Gas for Evening Meetings . . 1 10 0 Sub-Curator, on account 205 0 0 Dec. 31st Permanent Debt, viz. £. s. d. Sundry Bills, viz. Yorkshire Insurance New Cases . . 65 0 0 Company . 2500 0 0 Tables for Tent . , 45 0 0 William Gray, Esq. . . 1000 0 0 Maclean . . 10 0 0 Six* Members at 50/. Mr. Addams . . 15 15 0 each . 300 0 0 Wilson & Son . . 23 10 6 3800 0 0 Cluderay . . 88 0 0 Balance overdrawn J. Bowes . . 17 18 0 Messrs. Swann & Co. R. Hartley . . 12 15 6 31 Dec., 1842 . 1093 10 11 W. HiU . . 19 10 0 York Gas Company. . . 13 7 6 Turner . . 10 14 6 * £50. having been paid to the Akeroyd . . 11 13 6 Executors of the late Mr. Wol- T. Noton . 3 0 stcnholme. Brown . 12 0 Sundi-y small Bills . . . 62 16 0 C] £. s. ^6016 1 1 3850 0 1321 11 410 13 424 15 i:G016 1 Audited 1th Fch., 1843. T. ALLIS. ANALYSIS OF DISBURSEMENTS DURING THE YEAR 1842. Ordinary Expenses. Rent, Rates, &c. ; £. 5. d Rent to the Crown • • 1 0 5 Rent to the Corporation • • 6 12 6 Poor Rates, Highway Rates, and Land Tax • • 29 12 7 Insurance and Water Rent • • 11 0 0 Salaries and Wages : Sub- Curator .. 100 0 0 Servant 20 0 0 Lodgekeeper .. .. .. 11 0 0 Labourer 36 8 0 Collector . . , . 5 0 0 Occasional Labourers 17 1 0 Interest on Debt ; Interest on Mortgage Debt • • 100 0 0 Interest on £100 . . . . • • 40 0 0 Interest to Bankers for being overdrawn / • 46 1 0 Museum, Gardens, Grounds, &c : Painting and General Repairs « • 97 14 10- Purchase and Preparation of Specimens • • 16 10 0 Observatory • • 8 5 0 Library : Books and Binding 48 5 6| 189 9 0 186 1 0 122 9 lOf 7 10 6 Incidentals ; Printing, Advertising, and Stationery Coals, Gas Light, and Coke Postages, Carriage, and Sundries 34 12 0 33 15 6 14 19 11 - — 83 7 5 637 3 4 Extraordinary Mr. Addams’s Lectures New Cases in the Geological Room Tables for the Tent Cupboards in the Council Room Cases for the Antiquarian Collection Hospitium Repairs Expenses. 17 15 4 . . 65 0 0 . . 45 0 0 ..43 10 12 12 0 .. 62 14 11 — - — 207 6 1 £844 9 5 RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, FEB. 7, 1843. Resolved, that Joseph Clarke, Esq., of Cincinnati, and Thomas Weaver, Esq., F. G.S., of London, be elected Honorary Members of the Society. 1 . That the Report of the Council be adopted and printed for the use of the Members. 2. That the Council be authorized to present an invitation to the British Association for the Advancement of Science, at its next Meeting, to appoint its meeting for 1844 to be held in York. 3. That the Thanks of the Society be given to the Vice-Presidents and Members of the Council retiring from office. 4. That the Thanks of the Society he given to the Treasurer and Secretarv for their valuable services. 5. That the Thanks of the Society he given to the Curators for their diligent and useful services in the several departments of the Museum. 6. That the Council be empowered, on certain days, to be selected by them, during the present year, to permit free admission to the Museum and Gardens to all persons ; the mode of admission to be regulated by the Council. 7. That the Regulations adopted at the last seven Annual Meet¬ ings, for the admission of Strangers by the purchase of Tickets, be continued for the present year. 8. That the Resolution of the last Annual Meeting, empowering the Council to authorize the holding one or more Horticultural Meetings in the Society’s Gardens, be continued in force during the present year. 9. That the best Thanks of the Society be given to the Chairman and Committee of Management of the Horticultural Fete held in August last ; and that they be respectfully requested to continue their valuable services for the year 1844. c SUBSCRIBING MEMBERS OF THE YORKSHIRE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, ELECTED IN 1842 - 3. 1842. Thomas Henrv Travis, York. Arthur Symonds, York. James. Hack Take, York. Thomas Winn, York. Charles Wilkinson, York. Hon. William Stourton, Holdgate Lodge, York. Captain R. M. Darnell, Clifton Grove, York. Francis Whaley Harper, York. Abraham Braithwaite, YYrk, J. Walker, Mountville, York. 1843. Rev. Thomas Billington, York. Abraham Bower, Middlethorp Hall, York. Edward Harper, York. Joseph King, York. Joshua Oldfield, York. Rev. Charles Payton, York. Henrv Sotheran, York. Robert Sunter, York. Thomas K. L. Walker, York. SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS TO THE GENERAL MEETINGS. April 5th, 1842. — Horary Observa,tioiis of the state of the Barometer, Thermometer, direction of the Wind, and state of the Weather on the 21st and 22nd of March, 1842 ; with a diagram of the Barometrical and Thermometrical Curves during the period of the Observations. Also, a General Meteorological Report for York, for the year 1841 ; and some general remarks on the mode of recording Meteorological Observations, by John Ford. October 4th. — A Communication from Professor Phillips, con¬ taining an account, of 24 Meteors or Shooting Stars observed by him at Malvern, on the 9th of August last. Jan. 3rd, 1843. — Meteorological Observations made at Huggate, in 1841, by the Rev. T. Rankin. DONATIONS TO THE SOCIETY’S MUSEUM. GEOLOGY. Jos. Clark, Esq., {Cincinnati) Thomas Weaver, Esq., F.G.S. Samuel Hailstone, Esq., F.L.S. Henry Philip Cholmely, Esq. William Halfeild, Esq., F.G.S. "Rev. Francis Orpeu Morris .. Roland Stephenson, Esq . T. Meynell, Jun., Esq., F.L.S. D. Priestman, Esq . Mr. Henry Baines . J. Phillips, Esq., F.R.S., G.S. Crinoidea, corals, shells, and Crustacea, from the Silurian Strata of Cincinnati, including isotelus gigas, actinocrinus simplex, tri- arthrus bechei, orthis callactis, strophomena alternata, &c. Second large series of specimens from the Tort- worth district ; including specimens of rocks and fossils from the lias and oolitic series to the Portland rock. Scales of megalichthys in cannel coal from Wigan. Fossil wood (coniferous) from the sandstone associated with oolite, at Bransby. Crustacea, shells, corals, &c., from the Silurian carboniferous and more recent strata of the United States, including earipterus, homalo- notus, 3cc. Series of specimens from the lias and oolites of the south of England, including pentacrinites, pleurotomariae, astarte, modiola, terebratula, ammonites, &,c., from Dundry, and fishes from Lyme Regis (73 specimens). Series of (62) specimens of fossil fishes from the old red-sandstone of Morayshire, includ¬ ing coccostei, cheirolepides, pterichthys, &c. Spatangus hemisphsericus from Sussex. Fine specimen of fossil wood from the lias. Fossils from the tertiary bed of Bridlington. Specimens of wood and marl from the bog near which some of the sulphuretted springs Of Harrogate rise. MINERALOGY James Backhouse, Esq . T. Meynell, Jun., Esq. F.L.S. Thomas Backhouse, Esq . Various minerals from Australia. Elastic bitumen from Derbyshire; iron pyrites from Sussex. Carbonate of iron. ZOOLOGY. VERTEBRATA. James Backhouse, Esq. Rev. W. V. Harcourt, F.R.S. . . Lieut. C. Rudston Read, R.N. Mr. Thomas Allis . . Mr. William Holder {Hull) . . Rev. F. Orpen Morris . Thomas Sutton, Esq . R. Denison, Esq . John Henderson, Esq . Silburn Barber, Esq . Samuel Hailstone, Esq . William Hatfeild, Esq., F.G.S. Wombat and 4 other quadrupeds, 4 reptiles, 23 birds, 1 flying fish, part of a saw-fish, from Australia. Skins of birds, from South America. Skins of birds, from Australia, China, &c. The guan, from Australia. Skull of the polar bear. 190 eggs of British birds Solitary snipe, shot at Fulford, 1842. Dotterell. Large specimen of the pike (esox lucius), from Castle Howard. Hooded crow. Specimens of several British fishes, jaws of sharks, and eggs of sharks and skates. 82 skins of birds from North America. ANNULOSA. Rev. F. Orpen Morris . Rev. James Wake {Hedon) . . Rev. William Hey . Samuel Hailstone, Esq., F.L.S. 80 Foreign insects. 2 specimens of locust (L. migratoria), taken in Holderness, in 1 842. 18 species of British Coleoptera. Fine and extensive collection of British Crus¬ tacea, formed by the late S. Hailstone, Jun., Esq. (The Hailstone Collection.) MOLLUSCA AND ZOOPHYTA. James Backhouse, Esq . . . 5 starfish and Crustacea, from Australia. Mrs. Davies . . Echinus and ophiura. 22 ZOOLOGY. T. Meynell, Juu. Esq., F.L.S. Lieut. C. Rudston Read, R.N. Rev. F. Orpen Morris . R. A. Tudor, Esq. {Liverpool) Green Simpson, Esq . Echinus miliaris and chiton, from Seaton. Spondylus varius (very rare), and cypraia argus (rare), from China. A lizard in spirits. 80 species of zoophytes. Asterias. BOTANY. Sarah & Isaac Bass {Brighton) A volume, containing a collection of algse, from the coast of Sussex. Oswald Allen Moore, Esq . Barbaraea stricta (Clifton Beck), rumex aqua¬ tions (Clifton Ings), potamogeton planta gineus (Ditch near Heslington.). ANTIQUITIES. Rev. Charles Wellbeloved . . A celt, from Ireland. John Bayldon, Esq . Impression of an ancient seal of the Merchants’ Company of York, found in the ruins of Shap Abbey. G. Brown, Esq . 2 cannon balls, from a bastion in Walmgate Bar Walls. Mr. Cooper . . . A horse-shoe and pair of shears, dug up from a drain in Coppergate. COINS. 250 various coins. 3 Roman and 1 Saxon coin, 70 stycas recently found in St. Leonard’s Place, a forty-shilling piece of William iii, and 1 shilling of Eliza¬ beth, medal found in the Asylum Garden. 2 Roman coins. A large number of coins, chiefly Roman. Se¬ veral provincial pence and half-pence. Styca of Ethelred. Denarius of Commodus, medal in bronze of Mr. Carrington, chairman of the Aylesbury railway company. Rev. F. Orpen Morris [ . Rev. Charles Wellbeloved. . . . J. Prest, Esq . . G. Hobson, Esq. . Mr. John Bleckley . Robert Davies, Esq GARDEN. Mr. Lowe (Clapkam) . Mr. Barratt, (