338 THE CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES'
societies. These should be admitted with slightly restricted
privileges under the title of "associated societies," whilst the
publishing bodies, with fall rights, would be called "affiliated
societies."
Mr. Whitaker, the Chairman of the Corresponding Societies'
Committee, speaking in favour of a revision of the conditions of
union, expressed his opinion that the support of a well-organised
museum was probably a work of more importance than the
publication of transactions, and should accordingly be recog-
nised. The Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing held that publication was
not the most essential function of a local society ; if a paper were
worth printing as an original communication, it ought to appear
in the journal of some central society, whereas if it were not
worth printing its publication was not a gain to science. The
Rev. G. B. Stallworthy suggested that an official inspector
appointed by the Association should periodically visit the various
societies in union, and report to head-quarters as to the character
of the work which they were carrying on.
Considering the relation of the Essex Field Club to two
museums, it should be of interest to our members to notice a
paper read to the delegates by the Rev. W. Johnson, of York,
"On the utilization of local museums with special reference to
schools." The author held that local museums usually fail by
giving undue prominence to what is rare or special, whereas a
beginner wants to see the common natural objects, in order that
he may identify them in his field excursions. In order to attract
a young student it is necessary that a detailed description of a
given specimen, with drawings of its separate parts, should be
placed by side of the exhibit. With the view of inculcating a
taste for museums, Mr. Johnson strongly advocated the practice
of taking school children to Museums where the specimens were
not bewilderingly numerous and where each object was
intelligibly described. Demonstrations should be given either
by teachers or by curators—preferably the latter ; and warm
appreciation was expressed of the work of Mr. Crowther, the
Curator of the Leeds Museum. Mr. Johnson urged upon the
museum authorities the necessity of providing in connection
with the museum a room for such demonstrations, equipped
with lantern, screen, and all other necessary appliances. For
the labour involved in demonstration he considered that the