1894. NOTES AND COMMENTS. 87 



comes in through the respiratory perforations above mentioned. Mr. 

 Bouvier compares the commensaHsm of the worm and the coral with 

 that existing beween Parapagurus pilosimamis and colonies of Epi- 

 zoanthns. Similarly, the commensalism of the bivalve and the worm 

 may be likened to that obtaining in South Australia between 

 Ephippodonta and a burrowing shrimp. 



Science at a Picnic 



If we have ventured to say a good word for the much-abused 

 garden-parties and excursions of the British Association, we have no 

 wish that such license should be extended to other bodies v/hich are 

 of a somewhat similar character, but which differ in the fact that the 

 primary objects of their meetings are work and discussion. 



In our news column we give some account of the work done at 

 the recent meeting of the Museums' Association. Next year the 

 curators are to meet at Edinburgh, and we trust that the local com- 

 mittee of the northern capital will learn a few lessons from the Dublin 

 meeting. Irish hospitality was so generous and overwhelming that it 

 seriously detracted from what should have been the first business of 

 the meeting, the reading and discussion of papers and practical pro- 

 posals. It will scarcely be credited that, though the members spent 

 the best part of a week in Dublin, the time allotted to the long list of 

 papers, which included many besides those we have quoted, was only 

 five hours. Considerable complaint was heard at the way in which 

 both papers and discussion were, in consequence, burked ; while the in- 

 sertion of a day's excursion between the two days of meeting proved 

 vexatious to those who could ill spare their time even for the serious 

 business of the Association. We think we cannot do more good to 

 this hard-working body than by ventilating these complaints, which 

 gratitude to its unwearying hosts would otherwise stifle. 



Very similar is the cry that comes to us from the Antiquaries in 

 congress at Burlington House. In a paper that went straight to the 

 point, Mr. St. John Hope protested against the elaborate lunches that 

 waste much of the time at local archaeological meetings. Clear 

 explanations of the facts that they went to study were enough to 

 attract an audience without the addition of gratis meals. His 

 experience was that intelligent appreciation was usually shown by an 

 audience composed largely of working-men, which was in marked 

 contrast to the listless inattention and often rude indifference of folk 

 calling themselves ladies and gentlemen. Another objection to too 

 great an acceptance of local hospitality was that they might become 

 a tax upon the places they desired to visit. We ourselves remember 

 an occasion when, out of a large party, only two individuals examined 

 an interesting geological section, which the party had travelled many 

 miles to see, but which they were hindered from studying by the prior 

 attractions of welcoming speeches and lunch. 



