Introduction. ix 



General Committee. In most sections there are both evening 

 meetings and excursions. Scientific journals are taken in 

 and circulated, sectional libraries are being formed, and the 

 geological adherents have already begun to make a collec- 

 tion of local fossils found by themselves. So far, the scheme 

 works admirably, and it is hoped that when the next volume 

 of ' Transactions ' is issued a favourable report will be given 

 from each one of the seven sections. 



It will not be out of place here to mention what is being 

 done with reference to the College Museum (to which allusion 

 has already been made). A circular was issued not long 

 ago explaining its aim and limits : this circular we shall 

 here reprint, as it gives a good idea of the objects to be 

 attained and the difficulties to be overcome in founding this 

 highly desirable adjunct to the Scientific Society : — 



CLIPTOISr COLLEGE MUSEUM. 



For some time past a small collection of Natural History speci- 

 mens has been in course of formation at Clifton College, intended 

 as the nucleus of a School Museum. The want of a suitable apart- 

 ment for their reception has, however, prevented any proper 

 arrangement of these contributions being made, and thev are 

 almost wholly inaccessible to the pupils of the College, and may be 

 said to be at present practically useless. 



The Head Master has, however, recently built and presented to 

 the College an extensive Library and Museum, so that a most 

 favourable opjjortunity now exists for the full development of a 

 long projected and highly desirable plan. A considerable sum of 

 money will be required to fit up the Museum properly, to purchase 

 certain specimens which are not likely to be procurable from private 

 donors, and to foi-m an Endowment Fund for its maintenance and 

 management. Unfortunately, there are at present no funds available 

 for the purpose, and aid must be sought from the generosity of 

 relatives and friends of the pupils, for whose instruction and grati- 

 fication the museum is about to be established. 



It may, perhaps, be well to state here the objects and hmits of 

 the proposed Museum, and the method to be adopted in its arrange- 

 ment. A School Museum, to be a thoroughly useful one, should be 

 typical and complete ; yet, unless some definite plan be formed at 

 the very onset to procure what is really wanted, and nothing else, 

 thei'o is great danger of a collection of sundry miscellaneous objects 

 being formed, interesting enough, perhaps, in themselves, but 

 valueless for all scientific or educational purposes. The experience 

 of other such institutions has shown that, unless a ft-ee right of 

 accepting or declining donations of specimens be granted to the 



