CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES OF THE URITISH ASSOCIATION, I 25 



usually originated them. Moreover, the placing of these institutions 

 entirely under the control of such public bodies might tend to stereo- 

 typing them, the country through, into " cut and dried " collections 

 of "educational type specimens " in connection with technical class- 

 rooms, and thereby possibly destroy the primary function of county 

 museums, which is to gather together authentic series of local 

 specimens, whether of a "natural history," geological, or ethno- 

 logical character, so as ultimately to establish collections of 

 permanent scientific value, and of the greatest interest to every 

 intelligent resident and visitor. But the funds of almost all societies 

 of naturalists were so small that the main hindrance to the develop- 

 ment of a museum was a want of money, which suggested a want of 

 permanence. By a small grant towards the cost of a curator, or for 

 some similar purpose, obtainable only while the museum remained 

 efiScient, a County Council might do very much to render a museum 

 permanent and efficient without diminishing the interest of individual 

 naturalists in its welfare and development. 



Mr. Coates (Perthshire) stated that at Perth they were building a 

 large addition to their Museum, and had applied for aid both from the 

 Town Council and the County Council. They had obtained a grant 

 from the County Council on the condition that they should provide 

 specimens suitable for agricultural teaching. These specimens 

 would be used for lectures and demonstrations, and they had been 

 advised that they could not otherwise obtain the grant. 



Mr. Seward (Cardiff) was anxious to learn, if possible, what 

 things purchased for a museum with the view of making it more 

 attractive and useful to the poorer classes could be legally purchased 

 under the Act. 



Sir John Evans replied that he supposed the best authority in 

 these cases was the Science and Art Department, at South Kensington. 



The following resolution was eventually [)roposed by Sir Douglas 

 Gallon, seconded by Dr. Brett, and carried unanimously : 



" That in the opinion of this Conference it is desirable that local Natural 

 History Societies and those in charge of local museums should place themselves 

 in communication with the .Technical Instruction Committee of the County or 

 Borough in which they are placed, with the view of obtaining pecuniary grants 

 towards extending technical knowledge by means of lectures or by demonstra- 



' tions in museums." 



I 



I The Second Conference took place on August 14th. 

 ' On the subject of Meteorological Photography, Mr. Clayden, 



