XXIV PROCEEDINGS, 



present would realize the desirability of extending the work of 

 the local Societies in the direction indicated. Listening to Professor 

 Miall's plea for the study of the life -histories of insects, he recalled 

 the observation of a great ancient authority, I'liny, who said that 

 the nature of things is nowhere more complete than in the least 

 ( Cum natura rerum nusquam mafjis quam in minimis tola sit), 

 a remark which he thought foreshadowed the results discovered 

 by naturalists by means of the microscope in modern times. 



The Chairman said that he would like to express the hope that 

 when Professor Miall's suggestions had been circulated among the 

 members of the Corresponding Societies, and his ideas had borne 

 fruit, they would have the pleasure of hearing, at another Con- 

 ference, of his students having achieved valuable work under his 

 tutorship. 



Museums of Canada. — Dr. Ami then read a paper " On thf' State 

 of some of the Principal Museums of Canada and Newfoundland," 

 which was ordered by the General Committee to be printed in extenso 

 in the Report. 



The Chairman said that he could not help being struck with 

 the great wealth of material existing in Canada. Englishmen must 

 feel a certain amount of regret that the museum question is not 

 taken up with more earnestness in their own country. Their 

 provincial museums only existed with much difficulty, and were 

 altogether dependent upon private bounty in carrying on their 

 existence. Anyone who visits many of the loral museums in 

 England must see that the museum question has not taken that 

 prominent part in public opinion which it ought to do. Dr. Ami 

 has collected a vast amount of information of gi*eat value. There 

 must be in the museums of Canada much valuable material in the 

 way of types, and students in all parts of the world would be 

 the gainers if it were widely known where those types were to 

 be found. 



Your Delegate remarked that he was specially interested in the 

 museum question at the present time, for he and other members 

 of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society, including Sir John 

 Evans, were now endeavouring to raise sufficient money to build 

 and endow a museum for Hertfordshire, for which Earl Spencer 

 had granted an ample site at St. Albans. They had already been 

 promised about £1,500. A temporary museum had been opened 

 at St. Albans, and he felt sure, from their siiccess in obtaining 

 objects of local interest for it, that if the money required (at least 

 £2,000) could be raised, an interesting and valuable collection 

 would be got together. He feared that Dr. Ami's paper was too 

 long to be published in the Eeport of the Conference of Delegates, 

 but as the Conference stands upon the same footing as any Section 

 of the Association, it was empowered to suggest to the Committee 

 of Recommendations that this paper should be printed in extenso 

 in the Report of the Association, and he moved that such a request 

 be made. 



This was carried unanimously. 



