177 
NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
A well-attended Conference of Museum Curators from 
Yorkshire and Lancashire, was held at Halifax, on April 8th. 
Messrs. Crump, Crossland and Wellburn, the Hon. Curators, 
conducted the visitors round the natural history museum at 
Belle Vue, and Mr. Ling Roth shewed the party round the 
Bankfield Museum. It was evident that the people of Halifax 
were to be congratulated upon their excellent museums, and 
upon the fact that there is such an admirable staff of Honorary 
Curators. It was obvious, however, that it would be an 
advantage to have a permanent salaried curator. After tea, 
which was kindly provided by the Mayor of Halifax, papers were 
read by Mr. T. Sheppard, on “ Museum Guides’ ; by Mr. W. B. 
Crump, on ‘A New Method of Illustrating British Vegetation 
in Museums’; by Mr. H. Ling Roth, on ‘ The Use and Place 
of Anthropological Collections in Museums’ ; and by Mr. H. P. 
Kendall, on ‘ The Value of Photographs of Local Antiquarian 
Interest in Museums.’ 
YORK ANTIQUITIES. 
Mr. C. F. Bell, of the Achmolean Museum, has been writing 
to the Yorkshire Herald, drawing the attention of the authori- 
ties to the admittedly inadequate housing of the priceless 
collection of antiquities at York ; and all those who have an 
interest in the subject, including the officials at the museum 
itself, will be grateful if good results from the public appeal. 
Mr. Bell, after pointing out the extraordinary interest of the 
York collection, says :—‘ the whole effect is so sadly marred 
by crowding and lack of arrangement, that nobody but the 
special student can realize the extent and meaning of the 
collection. The manner in which the priceless Roman an- 
tiquities are displayed is mean and unworthy, the impossibility 
of controlling the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere 
in the old hostel—picturesque and appropriate as it is in many 
ways for the purpose—is becoming increasingly evident from 
the condition of the specimens and the mounts. Many of the 
bronze objects are beginning to decay in an alarming manner. 
-Not less precarious is the condition of the famous tapestry maps 
in the Lecture Hall, which are in a deplorable state of decay 
and dirt, and require immediate attention.’ Mr. Bell makes 
suggestions for improving this state of things, but the whole 
thing probably rests on the old complaint— lack of funds.’ 
THORNE WASTE. 
The great fire which raged on Goole and Thorne Moor during 
the middle of April is much to be regretted from a natural 
history point of view ; and though it may be possible to gather 
some interesting information in reference to the way in which 
the barren burnt ground is re-clothed by vegetation, and re- 
populated by animal life, this will not atone for the enormous 
loss which the fire has caused. Some little time ago the York- 
Igtr May va M 
