NOTES ON THE CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. 287
At the second day's Conference, Prof. Miall made some most
interesting and suggestive remarks on the study of life-histories
of insects as an introduction to natural history, a subject which
is too much neglected by even professed naturalists. Mr. Miall
announced that he had in preparation a "life history" of the
gnat Chironomus as an exemplification of the methods he advocated,
and all who have read his books noticed in a former part, (E.N.,
vol. X., p. 57), will look forward to its publication as to a
biological feast.
Dr. Ami read a paper "On the state of some of the
Principal Museums of Canada and Newfoundland" which has
been printed in full in the last Report (1897) of the British
Association, pp. 62-74. In the discussion of this paper the
Chairman said that Englishmen must feel regret that the
Museum question is not taken up with more earnestness in their
own country. Their provincial museums only existed with much
difficulty, and were altogether dependent upon private bounty in
carrying on their existence. Anyone who visits many of the
local Museums in England must see that the Museum question
has not taken that prominent part in public opinion which it
ought to do. Mr. Hopkinson remarked that he was specially
interested in the Museum question at the present time, for, with
other members of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society he
was now endeavouring to raise sufficient money to build and
endow a Museum for Hertfordshire, for which Earl Spencer had
granted an ample site at St. Albans. They had already been
promised about £1,500, but had decided not to commence build-
ing until £2,000 had been raised. A temporary Museum had
been opened at St. Albans, and he felt sure, from their success
in obtaining objects of local interest for it, that if the money
required could be raised an interesting and valuable collection
would be got together.
And finally Prof. Haddon speaking on behalf of the Ethno-
graphic Survey Committee urged local societies to undertake a
survey of the ethnography of their own districts. He would be
sorry to draw students away from the study of other branches of
natural history, but he thought that there must be many
members of Local Societies who did not study the fauna, the
flora, or the geology of their locality, but would be interested in
ethnographical work of some kind. There are several anthropo-
logical investigations which could be attempted almost anywhere.
Besides observations on the colour of the hair and eyes, the