CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 141
manner all types and figured specimens of natural history objects
within their respective spheres of influence ; and he urged the
propriety of extending such work to pre-historic antiquities.
[Some of Mr. Rudler's suggestions were so pertinent to the
case of our own Club, that we cannot refrain from quoting in full
two or three passages from the address which his modesty has
led him to summarise in a few lines. Referring to the
important question of the registration of type-specimens, he
remarked :—
" So far as concerns the types which are preserved in provincial museums
it may be said, probably, that the work should be done either by the museum
itself or by that excellent institution, the Museums Association, an associa-
tion which has recently increased its usefulness by the issue of a monthly
journal, which I may commend to the attention of local societies. It is true
that some of the larger museums have already published, or are now engaged
in publishing, lists of their type-specimens, or at least certain classes of types.
But most museums fail to possess the means of carrying out such work and
properly publishing the results, and therefore could hardly resent the inter-
ference of a local Society. Moreover a museum could not be expected to take
cognisance of specimens in private hands, whereas a committee of the local
scientific society could make it its business to seek out all the type-specimens
within its sphere of influence, whether in the local museum or in private
collections, and could give permanence and publicity to the information thus
acquired by printing the schedules of types in its proceedings."
Mr. Rudler proceeded in this connection to make a valuable
suggestion for local work, and one that is quite within the
powers, as well financial as scientific, of most societies :—-
" The same kind of research might, in my opinion, be extended with
advantage to local antiquities, at least to those of pre-historic age. Each
society might fitly publish lists of the antiquities which have been discovered
within its own district, and which have been described and figured. Where
the specimens remain in private hands, it is often difficult, and sometimes
impossible, to trace them, but no one is likely to be more successful in the
search than the members of the local society. The advantage of knowing,
when working at any particular subject, where the original specimens are
located is so obvious that I venture to hope that the Delegates may see their
way to urge the societies which they respectively represent to move in the
direction which I have indicated."
Many of those connected with local societies have been
almost appalled by the multitudinous schemes of work which
have from time to time been put forward by the Committee.
Mr. Rudler made some observations anent this matter which are
well worthy to be kept in mind :—
" It seems to me doubtful whether it is desirable to suggest at this Con-