NOTES AND QUKRli:, 
329 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Summer-Meetings of the Geologists' Association. — As a member of the 
Geologists' Associatiou, I must ask permission to trespass on your space for the 
means of suggesting that it would be desirable for that Society to institute 
field-meetings during the present sununer-season. I know there are other 
members who like myself regret that our labours appear to have terminated 
with the winter-sessioii of j)a])er-readiug and lectures. Now, Sir, 1 know it was 
felt at the outset of the Association by very many of the working geologists 
who so freely came forward to joui it, both those resident in London and those 
in the country, that such field-meetings were as, or even more, essential to the 
instruction of young and working geologists, and to the general progress of tlie 
science — for I am one at least who thinks the humblest labourer of some value 
in the community — as the instructive readings and discussions at the Society's 
chambers. It is not altogether Lu-door instruction we really want ; there is far 
more to be learnt in the field ; and doubtless there, too, we should find gentle- 
men with the right, both legal and intellectual, to add the F.G.S. to their names, 
ready to aid and assist us, as we have done already at the Society's rooms. 
field-meetings, and I would ask, could not one, at least, be held with advantage 
amiually in some locality or place of geological interest, when suitable papers 
might be read, and followed by discussions ; fossils and other objects brought 
together ; excursions made, and other means adopted for collecting and impart- 
ing information ? 
Perhaps something might be established in imitation of the plan of the British 
Associatiou for tiie Advancement of Science, though, of course, less pretending. 
One or two hundred working members might be got together, and oy a steady 
onward course for a few years, a lar^e amount of valuable material might be 
got up. It is true we have the Geological Societies of London and of Edin- 
burgh, two most important and influential bodies ; but these Societies, from 
the restrictive character of their respective constitutions, and the nature 
of the rules by which they are governed, are totally useless to the class of per- 
sons wliich the Geologists' Association was designed to benefit, and I beheve 
this class to be far more numerous than it is generally thought. 
I cannot help thinkuig the time has arrived when we should set about doing 
something of this kind, and I shall look for the uext month's Geologist witli 
no small anxiety, ui the hope to find that some such course of action shall have 
been determined upon, aud that the Society you so freely helped to established 
may, witliout attempting to emulate the more learned bodies, properly develope 
another, aud not the least important of its sources and means of instruction. 
I luive, moreover, preferred that my idea should, by your kind consent, be 
l)ropagated in your p;iges, as many members of the Association are included in 
the multitude of your readers, aud hence suggestions will most likely be made 
wliich may add to the value of mine. The excursion-trains, at this period ruu- 
uing on every line iu the kingdom, afiTord the means of country-members meet- 
ing at any appomted place tiieir city brethren, aud interviews and introductions 
woidd thus take jilace to which higher fares and less agreeable traveUing would 
be a barrier in the winter mouths. — I am, dear sir, your well wisher and reader, 
A Provinci.vl Geologist. 
Cheap Cabinets fok Fossils. — Sir, — What is the cheapest way of getting 
cabinets made for fossils and minerals ? It seems almost impossible in the 
Some one, I think, before 
Society, did propose such 
