242 Notes and Comments. 



reference to his or her own special study. It was not the 

 address of a specialist, but on general lines, as might have been 

 expected from a naturalist who has been so long the secretary 

 of an important provincial society. Among the subjects dealt 

 with were Meteorology, Geological Photographs, Bird Pro- 

 tection, Desmids and Diatoms, Maps, Free Trade, Kent's 

 Cavern, the teaching of Greek, Museums, and Forestry. He 

 concluded that the chief aim of all of us should be — 

 " To make the world within his reach, 

 Somewhat the better for his being, 

 And gladder for his human speech." ' 



WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 



Mr. T. Sheppard, M.Sc. opened a discussion on the Metric 

 System, and showed the necessity of some such scheme in the 

 interests of the advancement of science. He gave an account 

 of the various specimens of Money Scales and Weights in use 

 from Greek and Roman to Victorian times. By far the finest 

 collection of these money scales in the country, consisting of 

 over 200 varieties of boxes, is now in the Hull Museum. In 

 collecting Mr. Sheppard stated that he had had the help of 

 Mr. J. F. Musham of Selby. The lecturer dealt with the 

 absurdities to the present system of weights and measures, 

 and illustrated this, as regards money weights, by a series of 

 specimens from the Hull Museum collection. A long discus- 

 sion ensued, which was continued on the following day. The 

 paper was ordered to be printed in extenso in the Annual 

 Report of the British Association. 



THE MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION. 



The Museums Association, for similar reasons to those which 

 influenced the British Association, dispensed with its Annual 

 Conference this year, but held a business meeting in the Vic- 

 toria and Albert Museum, London, on July 10th. There were 

 members present from all parts of the country, and among 

 the subjects discussed were Rectangular Glass Jars, Income 

 Tax on Art Galleries, and National War Museums. The 

 members had the privilege of being addressed by Lord Plymouth 

 on the subject of Local War Memorial Museums. 



THE REPORT. 



From the annual report we learn that the Association 

 intervened in the matter of the National Gallery Bill, 1916, by 

 a letter expressing the opinion that any pictures not required 

 for the National collections could be absorbed by the provincial 

 and colonial galleries, to distinct advantage, and asking that 

 their claims should be considered before any were sold. The 

 Bill called forth criticisms from many quarters and is now in 

 abeyance. A letter of protest was sent from the Association 



Naturalist, 



