64 nerorT—1890. 
Investigation of the Invertebrate Fauna and Cryptogamic Flora of the 
British Isles —The other matter he was commissioned to bring before the 
Conference was the Committee appointed that day for the above purpose. 
The Committee had Canon Norman for its chairman and Professor 
Ewart as secretary ; three members for Ireland—Professor A. C. Haddon, 
Professor W. R. M‘Nab, and Professor W. J. Sollas; three for England 
—Professor Lapworth, Mr. F. E. Beddard, and Dr. H. Scott; and three 
for Scotland—Professor Bayley Balfour, Professor J, C. Ewart, and Pro- 
fessor J. Geikie. The object of that Committee is to make a systematic 
investigation of the rivers and lakes, and it is hoped that the microscopists 
will undertake definite scientific work ; they are exhorted, if they take up 
this investigation, to take note of the physical features of the stream or 
the lake which they study (of course including the geological features), 
and of the temperature at different periods of the year, and, in the case of 
lakes, at different depths, so that they would be working in conjunction 
with the Committee Dr. Mill referred to. 
Local Musewms.—Mr. John Brown said it was generally admitted ‘that 
the casual visitor to local museums finds a want of interest in the latter 
through not knowing what to look at. Of course a scientific person 
wishing to look ata particular object goes to that department in which 
he is interested. Is occurred to some of them in Belfast to give gratis a 
visitors’ guide, pointing out objects of interest, so that they could see 
them at once without going through the whole museum. The idea was 
to make it as concise as possible, so as to draw attention to the objects of 
interest by putting them in heavy type, and therefore enabling the 
visitors to find out at once what was to be seen in each department. He 
had with him a few copies if any Delegate desired to see them. 
Mr. Topley said there was a Committee of the British Association 
concerning local museums, but it had Japsed ; it might be reappointed, 
and if so, it would be a very good thing to bring that matter before them 
as well. It was quite right to mention it at this Conference, but he 
thought there had been a Committee specially concerned with these 
matters. 
Life Histories of Native Plants.—Mr. Knubley, in reply to the Chair- 
man, said that he was not asked to say anything about this subject, but it 
seemed to him an admirable suggestion, and one which their Committee 
should take up. 
Mr. Topley asked if anything with respect to Professor Balfour’s 
valuable paper, submitted to the Conference last year, had been done in 
Section D. Mr. Knubley replied in the negative. 
Mr. Gray said that he brought the matter before the Society he 
represented, and he knew that a friend of his, who was very well 
acquainted with the collection and cultivation of ferns, had undertaken a 
series of experiments outside his ordinary work with a view of endeavour- 
ing to promote Professor Balfour’s objects. 
Mr. Topley suggested that it would be well to bear the subject in mind 
and bring it before Section D next year. 
Section E. 
The Chairman said that he was not aware whether there was present 
any gentleman representing Section E, but they were in the interesting 
position this year of haying a representative of a foreign Society, Professor 
