XXIV PBOCEEDINGS OF THE 



esting circumstances connected with them, whether of soil, of 

 geological position, of meteorological phenomena, the period of 

 the year when obtained, peculiarities in their habits, and in short 

 any facts which may bear upon their history. If in addition to 

 this first consideration it happens that instruction is to be given, 

 by lectures or other means, in the study of Natural History gene- 

 rally, a typical collection may be added, which should be con- 

 sidered as entirely distinct from the local one, and as having a 

 totally different object. Upon this, however, it is not my purpose 

 to dwell at present, further than to call attention to the plan 

 which has been so energetically and intelligently carried out by 

 my friend Professor Henslow, whose exertions in this behalf are 

 already well known and appreciated. I would refer particularly 

 to the Ipswich Museum as a practical example of what may be 

 done in this respect, and to the lists which Mr. Henslow has 

 furnished to the British Association, and which are probably now 

 before you. — To recur to the local collections. My friend Pro- 

 fessor Phillips, in a recent address to the Malvern Field-Natural- 

 ists*' Club, alluding to the formation of such a museum, has very 

 strongly, and with great propriety urged the rejection, by an 

 absolute rule, of all offers of specimens excepting such as are con- 

 nected with the locality. The consequence of the neglect of this 

 salutary caution is the accumulation of masses of specimens from 

 all parts of the world, many of which might be available if suitably 

 placed, but are a mere useless incumbrance in a local museum. 

 They not only occupy space which might be more beneficially 

 employed, but they take off the attention and waste the time of 

 those who resort to the museum for information, and of those 

 whose duty it is to take care of the contents and keep the records. 

 Now, it has appeared to me that in many instances the utility 

 of such collections might be extended beyond the bounds of the 

 locality in which they are placed, by the communication to the 

 Linnean Society (by reports either periodical or at indefinite 

 times) of their new acquisitions, or of the observations recorded 

 by the curators or naturalists respectively attached to them in the 

 manner which I have before recommended. These, or selections 

 from them, might be printed, when considered of sufficient value, 

 in our Journal ; and thus many an interesting fact would be per- 

 manently recorded and made universally known, which would 

 otherwise be lost ; and great encouragement would be held out to 

 many a young naturalist in the country, by being placed in such 

 a relation to this Society. 



