time at Wycliffe, in order that he might draw such birds as he desired before the collection was sold; and in the advertisement in the 2nd volume of the 1st edition of "British Birds," 1804, Bewick says: "During a residence there of nearly two months in 1791, I took drawings from most of the British species (and some Foreign ones); and many of these were afterwards traced and engraved on the blocks of wood, but in the progress of the work so many other more recent specimens, both dead and living, were furnished by the patrons of the work, that the necessity of using several of these drawings was superseded by the more near approach to perfect nature"; but, nevertheless, at least forty-four of these species were drawn from Tunstall's examples.

In 1791 the Tunstall or Wycliffe Museum was sold by its then owner, Mr. Constable, and was purchased for the very modest sum of £700 by George Allan, Esq., of Grange, near Darlington. Mr. Allan had previously devoted much time to Antiquarian and Genealogical researches; and to him Hutchenson was indebted for very great assistance in the preparation of his "History of Durham." Mr. Allan also had a printing press, with which he privately printed many Antiquarian tracts and other papers. In 1775 he formed the acquaintance of Thomas Pennant, and correspondence was kept up between them during the following twenty-three years.

Mr. Allan died in 1800, in his 65th year. He had made considerable additions to the Museum while it had been in his possession; and the collection of Birds had been made use of by Dr. Latham in his "General Synopsis of Birds," and by Colonel Montague in his "Ornithological Dictionary." After Mr. Allan's death it remained in the possession of his son until the year 1823, when, what was then known as the "Allan Museum" was purchased for £400

and presented to the "Literary and Philosophical Society." But long years of utter neglect had entirely ruined very much of the collection. Many of the specimens when they reached Newcastle were in a sad state of decay, and this more especially was the case with a large number of the birds, so much so that Albany Hancock wrote of them, "It was evident to every ornithologist that nearly all the specimens would have to be replaced." In 1826, when the collection was placed in the Museum of the Literary and Philosophical Society, several gentlemen took part in arranging the specimens and in supplying deficiencies.

It soon, however, became quite evident that the funds of the Literary and Philosophical Society were wholly inadequate to supply the necessary means to meet the growing requirements of the Museum, or even to maintain. it in its then condition. In 1829 forty-six gentlemen, who were either Naturalists or interested in science, recognising the utter insufficiency of the existing accommodation for the objects of the Museum, conceived the idea of establishing the "Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne," and issued a circular inviting others to join them. The Society was established and an "Introductory Address" delivered by the Rev. William Turner on Sept. 15th of the year named. The "Provisional Laws" of the Society were then drawn. up and officers elected. We find that during the succeeding year monthly meetings were held, at each of which several papers were read, many of them being of lasting value, and the first half-volume of the quarto Transactions of the Society was published. In the next year the remaining portion of the volume was issued at a cost of about £400. Moreover, the Society now rented a large room in proximity to the Literary and Philosophical

Institute, into which the whole of the foreign birds were removed, so that the walls of the Museum could be devoted to the better exhibition of the British collection. Still, however, it was impossible from want of room to display the Geological specimens. Moreover, Mr. Hutton had offered to deposit his valuable collection of Minerals with the Society for the use of students, an offer of which the Society was most anxious to avail itself, but was unable to do so in consequence of the insufficiency of space. Steps were now therefore taken to prepare plans and collect subscriptions for the erection of a building on the ground behind the Literary Society's premises. August 1st, 1833, the corner stone of the future Museum was laid by the Mayor; and in 1834 it was opened by the Duke of Northumberland. It had cost £4,716 3s. 9d.

On

Contributions to the collection now rapidly flowed in, so that as early as in 1838 enlargement was already spoken of. Six years later, however, we find that many of those who had taken most active part in promoting and fostering the Museum were dead, and that, moreover, a period of commercial stagnation had much affected the revenues and caused what in that year's Report was spoken of as the "Society's present depression." In the following year, matters began to improve; many additional subscribers were enlisted, and 30,000 persons visited the Museum, and in the following year the number of entrances rose to 44,000.

Meanwhile the absolute necessity of additional space became more and more pressing, while the lighting of the building was far from satisfactory. In 1862-3 a gallery was erected, and the roof altered so as to give a considerable addition of light, at a cost of £1,070.

What, however, was then thus done could only be regarded as a temporary expedient, and fell very far short

of meeting the immediate requirements of additional space. Nor did the position at that time occupied by the Museum admit of structural enlargement of the building. It was manifest that sooner or later a new Museum must be erected on an entirely different site. It required some man possessed of enthusiasm, energy, and determination to personally take the matter up and carry out the idea in his mind to a successful issue. Such a spirit was found in John Hancock, and it is to his exertions and devotion to the work that Newcastle is indebted for that building, which after his lamented death was named the "Hancock Museum," in memory of the two well-known brothers, Albany and John.

John Hancock was strongly convinced that if a suitable and sufficient building was to be raised it must be mainly done through the liberality of a few rich men interested in science, who must give such sums as would defray the chief outlay, and at the same time inspirit and incite others to contribute liberally according to their lesser means.

On February 27th, 1879, John Hancock brought before the Natural History Society plans which had been prepared by Mr. Wardle in accordance with Hancock's own views as to the best form, size, arrangement and lighting of the rooms for the display of specimens ; at the same time he announced that six of his friends, Lord Armstrong, Colonel John Joicey, Edward Joicey, Esq., Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell, John Rogerson, Esq., and the then late W. C. Hewetson, Esq., had promised donations amounting to more than £18,000. In the autumn of the same year he further made known that a site had been purchased for £6,500 by Colonel Joicey, and presented by him to the Society. And now the scheme was fairly afloat, the contracts for the building were signed, and

other subscriptions flowed in. The ultimate cost of the site and building was £47,877. It was opened by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on August 20th, 1884, who was also accompanied by the Princess of Wales and the Princes Albert Victor and George.

The approach to the Museum is from the south. The entrance hall extends across the entire width of the central building, the main staircases are erected in small wings which project southwards at each extremity of the hall, while another small wing extending eastwards is the Committee Room, and the corresponding wing on the western side the Ladies' Room. The main Museum consists of three rooms, each 110 feet long, the central 60, the others 40 feet wide; these are, in accordance with what is regarded as the most effectual mode of lighting, glass-roofed, with results that all cross-lights are avoided, and an unbroken wall space is obtained for cases; the walls being utilized not only at the base but also above by the galleries which run round the buildings. East and west of the main rooms are two-storied corridors, each 120 feet long and lighted from the external walls, and, lastly, to the north are situated the Curator's and other work-rooms. Over these work-rooms is a store-room, and over the Entrance Hall is the Library.

Two Newcastle men have been famous among Ornithologists, Bewick on account of the life-like attitude of the Birds illustrated in his work, and John Hancock for his intimate acquaintance with the life, the habits, and the attitude of Birds, and his surpassing skill as a taxidermist, which enabled him to almost reproduce motion and life into the birds which he preserved. In the gallery which surrounds the first room will be found many hundreds of the original Drawings of Bewick, together with a complete set of his woodcuts, many of