232 The Scottish Naturalist. 



expecting enthusiastic praise. Local collectors bave done their 

 best according to their imperfect information and judgment, but 

 have lamentably failed in making a collection of scientific value or 

 educational use. 



I should say, as Dr, Trail does, make a collection of typical 

 specimens illustrative of the kingdoms, or better of one kingdom, 

 of nature ; and reject all untypical specimens ; and, as a rule, do 

 not insert anything lower than genera. Then, make as perfect a 

 collection, extending to species, and even to varieties, as can be 

 obtained of the animals, plants, and minerals found in the district, 

 be it a county, or be it otherwise. This will form a collection of 

 very great value to the naturalist, and of much interest to the 

 casual visitor to the museum. Neither naturalists nor visitors go 

 to local museums to see such a miscellaneous collection as Dr. 

 Trail has described ; they usually want to learn what has been 

 found in and about the place where the museum is situated. And 

 the student is similarly satisfied for he can then determine the 

 name and character of any specimen that he may find, and can 

 also see and study types of groups not represented in his district. 



One more point must be impressed upon everyone. The 

 museum must be placed in charge of some permanent public 

 body, which will look to its preservation. If this is not done all 

 the labour spent on it will probably be lost. Its enthusiastic col- 

 lectors die or leave the district ; no one troubles himself about it; 

 dust and insects get in ; and all goes to ruin, for want of even the 

 little attention that a public body would pay to its preservation. 



There is another matter of importance noticed by Dr. Trail. I 

 mean the publication of papers of value communicated to local 

 societies. As is well remarked, they publish Transactions, which 

 no one sees, except a few local people. We, who live at a dis- 

 tance, never hear of the papers, of however great value they may 

 be ; or if we do hear of them, we are quite unable to obtain access 

 to more than a meagre abstract in some better circulated Journal. 



Why should not a representative body be formed to examine all 

 such papers, and if the paper is reported favourably upon, to re- 

 commend it for publication, in Scotland in the Scottish Naturalist, 

 and in England in some similar journal. Of course, the reporters 

 on the papers need no more be known than they are in the great 

 scientific societies, which always refer their papers before accepting 

 them for publication. It seems to me that such a plan as this is 

 deserving of consideration ; and I, therefore, throw out the sug- 

 gestion. 



