Notes and Comments. 



YORK MAPS. 



Accompanying' the volume are three very useful maps, one 

 is a reproduction of Skaife's well known archgeological map of 

 York (1864). There is a map of the greater part of the county, 

 specially prepared by the Ordnance Survey for the meeting, and 

 a map showing the glacial lakes, moraines, etc., which is to 

 be distributed amongst the members of the geological section. 

 This last is handy ; if it is possible to find a fault it would be 

 that the railways are shown just a little too prominently, but 

 as we believe this map is largely due to the efforts of Mr. M. B. 

 Cotsworth, this item is quite excusable ! 



YORK MUSEUM. 



In perusing- the various sections of the Handbook above 

 referred to, it is impossible to get away from the fact that the 

 York Philosophical Society and its Museum are duly appreciated 

 for the influence they have had on the scientific activity — or 

 otherwise — of York. The editor is justly proud of the fact that 

 the society 'discovered' John Phillips, and that John Phillips, 

 with Vernon Harcourt and W. Gray, founded the British 

 Association. Were it but possible that Phillips could attend 

 the present meeting of the Association — would he not be 

 surprised — possibly astounded — at the present position and 

 importance of the Association. It has surely g-rown beyond 

 even Phillips' greatest expectations. But, wouldn't he be 

 even more astounded to find that the Museum he loved so 

 well, and for which he did so much, was little diff'erent from 

 the days in which he knew it ? True, it may contain some 

 specimens which have been added since his day — labels 

 too, thanks (?) to the constant changes in nomenclature — 

 may bear unfamiliar names, but the buildings, the cases, etc., 

 have they advanced with the times ? They have not. This is 

 no fault of the Curators, nor of the few enthusiasts who do take 

 an interest in the Museum. It is the fault of those who ought 

 to have been the very first to have kept their unique collections 

 in worthy surroundings — the wealthy citizens of York. We 

 can only express the hope — as we have already done recently in 

 in these columns — that the meeting of the British Association 

 may awaken the people of York to their responsibilities, and 

 that a new building may be erected for the better display of the 

 specimens. 



1906 August I. 



