1899] NEWS 85 



In reference to our note last month (xiii. p. 368) on the Frank Buckland 

 collection, we are pleased to learn that a memorial has been prepared for 

 presentation to the Lord President of the Council and the President of the 

 Board of Trade protesting against the removal and distribution of what was 

 brought together after many years of laborious work. 



With the view of rescuing the museum from oblivion, and raising it from its 

 present abject position to one of usefulness, it is proposed that it should be made 

 part of the duties of the inspectors of fisheries to preserve and deposit in the 

 Museum of Economic Fish Culture any objects of permanent interest which may 

 come under their notice, together with models of improvements in fish passes, 

 fish-culture apparatus, etc., which may be useful for reference or record. It is 

 also suggested that the secretary and the inspectors of the Fisheries Department, 

 together with the representatives of the Fishmongers' Company, should be 

 appointed visitors to advise on and aid in the efficient management and develop- 

 ment of the museum. 



The memorial has already been signed by the chairmen of the leading fishery 

 boards throughout the country, and other associations and individuals interested 

 in the fisheries, including the Duke of Richmond, Sir Edward Birkbeck, Sir W. 

 Priestley, Sir Thomas Walpole, Sir George Macpherson-Grant, Lord-Justice A. 

 L. Smith, the prime warden of the Fishmongers' Company, the president of the 

 Fly-Fishers' Club, and representatives of all the leading fishing clubs. 



Professor Trail, of Aberdeen University, has set on foot a movement for the 

 formation of a Society and the institution of a Natural History Museum at 

 Aberdeen. The following are amongst the objects of the Society : — (a) Collec- 

 tions from the district to illustrate with the utmost possible completeness the 

 local natural history, and history of man from his earliest appearance within 

 the district to the present time. (6) Series of types carefully selected to 

 illustrate the leading features of natural history and of man's progress in their 

 wider relationships elsewhere than in the locality ; these series to be made of 

 use for teaching, (c) Specimens and preparations mounted in boxes, con- 

 structed for easy and safe transport; these specimens, etc., to be selected as 

 suitable for instruction in schools, and to be lent to teachers desirous to use 

 them in teaching in their schools, the borrowers defraying carriage both' ways, 

 and making good any damage done to objects while in their custody. 



Apropos of the Lithographic Exhibition at the South Kensington Museum 

 it is interesting to note that for some time past experiments have been made 

 which seem to show that similar results can be obtained by the use of prepared 

 plates of aluminium. The importance of the discovery will be readily seen 

 when one considers the relative weight and cost of Solenhofen stone and plates 

 of aluminium. It has got to be shown whether the extreme delicacy of the 

 work done of the process of Aloys Senefelder can be produced by the use of 

 the metal. 



Mr. John Morgan, of Hastings, who has for many years been engaged in 

 collecting corals, has recently arranged his museum and made it accessible to 

 the public in a suitable building connected with the Hastings Public Baths at 

 White Rock. The hall, we understand, was originally intended for an aquarium, 

 and Mr. Morgan uses some of the tanks for exhibiting various marine organisms. 

 The collection is well labelled, and illustrated both by diagrams and Saville 

 Kent's well-known photographs of the Great Barrier Reef. Mr. Morgan arranges 

 for a weekly lantern lecture or demonstration, and has also secured the services 

 of Mr. Connold, secretary of the Hastings Natural History Society, to conduct 

 visitors round the museum. 



In the museum of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British 

 Guiana, at Demerara, various changes have recently been introduced. The 

 exhibited series of birds has been revised according to the British Museum 

 Catalogue, and over 200 specimens have been remounted by Gerrard and Son of 



