IT is to be regretted that the British Association does not exert its influence in stimulating local scientific Societies towards greater efforts for the formation in their museums of collections representing the Geology and Natural History of their respective neighbourhoods, so that they might constitute local monographs. Such a system, combined with a central museum in London, representing an epitome of the collections throughout the country, would tend to the advancement of science with greater rapidity and accuracy than at present, when the provincial museums are little better than overstocked curiosity-shops, and with no recognised plan of arrangement which is greatly wanted. In general there is little space (or additions of importance, from the fact that the museums already contain large miscellaneous collections, unconnected with the neighbourhood, and of latle use to anybody. Many valuable private collections exist throughout the country, representing the geology, &c, of various localities, which are eventually too often dispersed and lost to the district where they would be most useful and instructive. Private collectors would probably show more public spirit, if greater zeal and better judgment were shown by local societies.