136 First Conference 



and even in comparatively small country towns. His 

 reason for this was twofold : first, because it is impos- 

 sible for these smaller centres to compete with the 

 metropolitan museums in acquiring complete general 

 collections, and, second, and more important, because 

 it is the first duty of these centres to make known the 

 natural products of their own districts. As yet com- 

 paratively few centres have followed the advice of 

 Sir William Flower, but I feel confident that if the 

 local educational authorities, both managers and 

 teachers, make the want sufficiently felt, it will be 

 supplied in time. I would hope also that, in course 

 of time, the state may recognize the educational 

 value of local museums in such a way as to make 

 some provision for their maintenance, either out of 

 the imperial or local funds provided for educational 

 purposes. 



The remainder of Mr. Coates's paper was taken up with 

 a detailed description of the plan of arrangement of the 

 Perthshire Natural History Museum as a typical local 

 museum, and with a description of the various ways in 

 which that museum had lent its aid to the schools of the 

 county in furtherance of the teaching of nature-knowledge. 

 In particular he described the scheme of essay competitions 

 for school children which had been in operation in con- 

 nection with the museum for some years, the subjects 

 prescribed being suitable for the teachers to take up in 

 their nature-knowledge teaching. The museum had also 

 supplied a want in the lending of specimens to the schools, 

 in providing books on natural history subjects, and as 

 affording means of demonstration for teachers' classes. 



In conclusion, he pointed out that while it is impossible 

 for every elementary school to have a museum of its own 

 of such proportions as to be of any practical value, it ought 

 to be perfectly possible for at least every county to have a 

 thoroughly-equipped local museum. 



