l88 EXPLORATION AND REGISTRATION WORK 



{e) The exploration of interesting geological deposits, so as to 

 accumulate, before they disappear, as perfect sets as possible of 

 •characteristic fossils. Examples : our Walton Crag, brick-earths 

 and terrace gravels. 



(/) The study and registration on large-scale maps of coast 

 erosion and the formation of sandbanks and the silting up of our 

 ■estuaries. 



(g) Any special investigations which may be suggested by the 

 County Council itself, or by the British Association 

 Committee. 



5. All specimens, plans, &c., thus obtained or made should be 

 •deposited in the county museum, the museum authorities 

 undertaking to suitably preserve and register them for future 

 study. 



6. As above indicated, all the reports should be published at 

 a cheap rate, and copies deposited in local libraries and in the 

 principal public libraries in the kingdom. The British 

 Association might well be asked to catalogue these reports from 

 the several counties as an Appendix to the Report of the Local 

 Societies Committee. 



Such is a rough sketch of my proposal. I have assumed that 

 a county scientific Society exists in each county. Where this is 

 not the case, a joint committee of the smaller Societies of the 

 ■county might be formed for this business. I ma}'' be permitted 

 to observe that, in my humble opinion, it is most desirable that 

 such Societies should at once unite to form strong county units. 

 Each county should have one scientific Society and one 

 archaeological Association, with local sub-committees, if thought 

 necessary. 



The primary difficulties are left until the last. Would our 

 county councils consider the subjects mentioned and the 

 suggested method of treating them of educational value ? If so, 

 would they assist ? and, finally. Is such an allocation of educa- 

 tional funds legal ? . 



It is submitted that the small annual sum mentioned would, if 

 •expended in this way, produce results of considerable educational 

 value. We spend vast sums in teaching modern history, and 

 ought we to consider the " buried history of Britain " (as it has 

 been happily termed) of no importance ? The work of collecting 

 information respecting plants, animals, fossils, encouraged and 



