28 The Irish Naturalist. [ January, 1897. 



Dr. H. M. Ami, of Ottawa, read a paper " On the state of some of the 

 principal Museums of Canada and Newfoundland," in which he detailed 

 the more important objects and collections in the several Museums. 

 This led to a short discussion, the paper will be printed in extenso in the 

 Report of the Association. 



As representing Section H. (Anthropology), Prof. Haddon was next 

 called upon to offer some suggestions, and speaking on behalf of the 

 Ethnographic Survey Committee, he said that it seemed to him that, while 

 the local Societies properly spend a great deal of time on natural history, 

 they neglect the study of man, who is an animal, and deserves to be 

 studied as thoroughly as the lower animals. Local Societies might well 

 undertake a survey of the ethnography of their own districts. He would 

 be sorry to draw students away from the study of other branches of 

 natural history, but he thought that there must be many members of 

 the local societies who did not study the fauna, the flora, or the geology 

 of their locality, but would be interested in ethnographical work of some 

 kind. There are several anthropological investigations which could be 

 attempted almost anywhere. Besides observations on the colour of the 

 hair and eyes, the stature, the shape of the head, and other physical 

 characters, the customs and beliefs of the people and their folk-lore 

 should be studied. As examples, mention need only be made of local 

 cUvStoms on particular daj's, or the numerous and very interesting 

 singing games of childen, such as "Jenny Jo," '"Dukes-a-riding," "Green 

 Gravel," and the like. These might seem to be trifling matters, but many 

 of these customs and games are the only records we have left to us of 

 the religious rites and social customs of our ancestors, and therefore 

 they are by no means to be despised. It would also be advisable for the 

 local scientific and photographic Societies to interest their members in 

 depicting the geology, natural history, and ethnology of their district, the 

 latter especially. Many opportunities for the study of British anthro- 

 pology are vanishing or becoming modified just as surely as are 

 corresponding details in the islands of the Pacific. 



Several exhibits were shown — Mr. R. Li,. Praeger, Vice-President, 

 showed a fasciated Carline Thistle from the Murrough of Wicklow, Mr. 

 A. V. Jennings, F.L.S., a series of specimens of alpine and other plants, 

 Mr. H. J. Seymour, B.A., a series of Du Noyer's geological drawings 

 belonging to University College, and the Hon. Sec. (Dr. T. Johnson), 

 pieces of old and new long lines in which the hooks are made of the 

 thorns of the Blackthorn, and said to be considered by the Essex 

 fishermen better catchers than steel hooks. The Secretary also exhibited 

 specimens illustrating the group of slime fungi or Mycetozoa of which 

 a collection of 100 species had been recently presented by Mr. A. Lister, 

 F.L.S., to the Botanical Collections of the Science and Art Museum, 

 Some of the characteristics of the group were described, and the hope 

 was expressed that some member of the Club would undertake with the 

 help of this collection the examination of the Irish slime fungi of which 

 not more than twenty species were known. Nominations of four 

 candidates for Club membership were read. 



