CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. I4I 



manner all types and figured specimens of natural history objects 

 within their respective spheres of influence ; and he urged the 

 propriety of extending such work to pre-historic antiquities. 



[Some of Mr. Rudler's suggestions were so pertinent to the 

 case of our own Club, that we cannot refrain from quoting in full 

 two or three passages from the address which his modesty has 

 led him to summarise in a few lines. Referring to the 

 important question of the registration of type-specimens, he 

 remarked : — 



" So far as concerns the types which are preserved in provincial museums 

 it may be said, probably, that the work should be done either by the museum 

 itself or by that excellent institution, the Museums Association, an associa- 

 tion which has recently increased its usefulness by the issue of a monthly 

 journal, which I may commend to the attention of local societies. It is true 

 that some of the larger museums have already published, or are now engaged 

 in publishing, lists of their type-specimens, or at least certain classes of types. 

 But most museums fail to possess the means of carrying out such work and 

 properly publishing the results, and therefore could hardly resent the inter- 

 ference of a local Society. Moreover a museum could not be expected to take 

 cognisance of specimens in private hands, whereas a committee of the local 

 scientific society could make it its business to seek out all the type-specimens 

 within its sphere of influence, whether in the local museum or in private 

 collections, and could give permanence and publicity to the information thus 

 acquired by printing the schedules of types in its proceedings." 



Mr. Rudler proceeded in this connection to make a valuable 

 suggestion for local work, and one thai is quite within the 

 powers, as well financial as scientific, of most societies : — 



" The same kind of research might, in my opinion, be extended with 

 advantage to local antiquities, at least to those of pre-historic age. Each 

 society might fitly publish lists of the antiquities which have been discovered 

 within its own district, and which have been described and figured. Where 

 the specimens remain in private hands, it is often difficult, and sometimes 

 impossible, to trace them, but no one is likely to be more successful in the 

 search than the members of the local society. The advantage of knowing, 

 when working at any particular subject, where the original specimens are 

 located is so obvious that I venture to hope that the Delegates may see their 

 way to urge the societies which they respectively represent to move in the 

 direction which I have indicated." 



Many of those connected with local societies have been 

 almost appalled by the multitudinous schemes of work which 

 have from time to time been put forward by the Committee. 

 Mr. Rudler made some observations anent this matter which are 

 well worthy to be kept in mind : — 



" It seems to me doubtful whether it is desirable to suggest at this Con- 



