THE letter by Mr. T. W. Cowan in NATURE, vol. ix. p. 241, confirms the truth of the statements contained in my â Appeal to our Provincial Scientific Societiesâ which appeared in NATURE, vol. ix. p. 162. Collections of the kind described by Mr. Cowan are â kicking â about the country in all directions, valued merely as temporary possessions by the owners, few of whom, as far as my experience goes, appear to possess sufficient public spirit or intelligence to realise their public and scientific importance ; otherwise these collections would be more frequently localised and preserved for the district museum.