170 
Notes and Comments. 
well-known ‘ Monograph,’ published by the same Society over 
bo years ago. Mr. Harmer’s memoir alone occupies 200 pages 
and 24 plates. The Misses Ellis and Wood contribute Part X. 
of their work on ‘ British Graptolites,’ and Mr. W. K. Spencer 
writes on ‘ The Palaeozoic Asterozoa,’ in which he gives a 
remarkable Introduction to their study. Dr. Cowper Reed 
gives a supplement to his work on ‘ Girvan Trilobites,’ and 
the Monographs of the late Dr. Traquair on ‘ Carboniferous 
and Old Red Sandstone fishes,’ are concluded. 
MUSEUM REGULATIONS. 
The Yorkshire Obsereer draws attention to a quaint rule 
in vogue at the British Museum 150 years ago : — In the year 
1759 the Trustees published their ‘ Statutes and Rules Relating 
to the Inspection and Use of the British Museum.’ This 
document set forth that persons wishing to inspect the national 
< ollections must make previous application to the porter, in 
writing, stating their names, occupations, places of abode, and 
the day and hour at which they desired to be admitted. These 
applications were laid before the secretary in attendance every 
evening. If this official judged the applicant to be a person 
of sufficient respectability he authorised the porter to grant a 
ticket. But the troubles of the candidate for admission did 
not end there. The regulations stated that no more than ten 
tickets should be issued for each hour that the Museum was 
open. When ten ticker-holders had gathered in the waiting- 
room they were admitted, but this small party was divided 
into two of five, each being taken round by an official. One 
hour was the utmost time allowed for the inspection of one 
department, and, on a signal being given by the ringing of a 
bell, the visitors had to pass on to another part of the building. 
Three hours was the limit of time that any company might 
spend in the Museum, and a register was kept of those persons 
who transgressed any of the rules, the porter being instructed 
never to admit them again. 
‘ PUNCH,’ AND NATURAL HISTORY. 
We have previously had to correct Punch for his lack of 
natural history knowledge. His latest is a quotation from 
the Hexham Herald that ‘ He would rather he went for three 
years, for one could readily understand that for the first year 
he simply touched the fungi of the Council business.’ To this 
Punch adds, ‘ Motto for rival town council, “ There’s no moss 
on us.” ’ Punch ought to know that moss is no more a fungus 
than he is. Of course if the matter is a joke, or a veiled 
advertisement for The Times, or The Daily Mail (all of which 
occur quite frequently in the pages of that journal nowadays) 
we apologize ? 
Naturalist, 
