122 NOTES ON THE CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES OF THE 



It was thought by the Corresponding Societies' Committee that 

 it might increase the practical advantages of the Conference if its 

 first meeting were devoted to the discussion of some one subject of 

 general interest to the Coi responding Societies, and the second to the 

 various matters usually touched upon in connection with the 

 various Sections of the Association. Accordingly, Mr. Cuthbert 

 Peek, M.A., a member of the Corresponding Societies' Committee, 

 Jcindly consented to open a discussion at the first meeting of the 

 Conference on August 9th on the subject of Local Museums, pro- 

 posing to treat the question under the following headings : 



1. Methods of registration and cataloguing. 



2. The protection of specimens from injury and dust. 



3. The circulation of specimens and type collections for educational purposes. 



4. Central referees for nomenclature and classification. 



5. The most satisfactory methods of makint: museums attractive. 



6. Museum lectures and demonstrations. 



7. The relations between museums and County Councils. 



For small museums Mr. Peek considered the card catalogue was 

 the most convenient, and he dwelt on the advantages of having a 

 letter and number painted on a specimen, and of other means by 

 which a specimen might easily be identified if the label were dis- 

 placed by a careless cleaner. As regards the preservation of 

 specimens from injury and dust, he reminded the delegates that 

 every closed case was acted upon by changes in the pressure of the 

 atmosphere, and that it drew in or gave out air and dust with every 

 change of pressure. Professor Miall, of the Yorkshire College, had 

 a rectangular hole cut in the top of each case and covered with 

 damiette This filtered the air passing through. Mr. Peek himself 

 inclined to use cotton wool. It should be remembered, he added, 

 that enough air should be admitted at the authorised entrance to 

 prevent a supply from being sucked in through the inevitable joints 

 and cracks elsewhere. 



He then spoke very highly of the advantages of the circulation of 

 loan collections illustrating the subjects taught in elementary schools. 

 At Liverpool, he remarked, a system for doing this had been very 

 carefully elaborated, and those interested in the subject should 

 consult a paper by Mr. J. Chard in the Report of the Museums' 

 .Association for i8go. 



He thought that an organisation of specialists, who would, for a 

 small fee, allow specimens to be sent to them for identification, 

 would be of great value. In the discussion after the conclusion of 



