WANTED THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND 3 



limited to one science, or even to a much narrower field ; 

 and no one can hope to keep account of these papers by 

 one's own watchfulness. Still more difficult is it not to 

 overlook what appears in separate form, or in local works, 

 guidebooks, travels, sometimes in foreign languages, and in 

 ways that are very apt to escape notice. 



As the years pass, many contributions, while still of 

 great value, become forgotten, especially if issued in a 

 local publication. Their subjects are investigated again, 

 under the supposition that they have not been previously 

 approached, and much labour is wasted that might have 

 been saved had the earlier work not been forgotten ; or after 

 completion of the work anew the earlier paper is found, and 

 the second proves to have been needless, and is thereupon 

 withdrawn. Every worker knows how large a part of the 

 time that should be available for extending knowledge is 

 spent in seeking to find out what had already been published 

 on the subject under investigation, and must have longed 

 for an accurate and full subject -index to the field of 

 investigation. This heavy burden on scientific work grows 

 more exigent year by year, and threatens to preclude 

 advance, if the inquiry must be made anew by each indi- 

 vidual. There is urgent need to free research from such 

 burdens as far as that is possible. If relief is not given by 

 efficient indexing research will build itself into its own 

 tomb ; and its very earnestness and productiveness will 

 only cause it to be crushed by its own products the more 

 speedily. 



It may be thought that to advocate the formation of 

 another natural history society is only to add to the burdens 

 already so oppressive. That might be so if it were on the 

 lines of those already existing ; but the society of which 

 there is need should not be on these lines. Its aims should 

 be to supplement and strengthen the work of all societies 

 and individuals that seek in any way to extend what is 

 known of the natural history of Scotland ; in no way to 

 diminish or to interfere with their usefulness or freedom, but 

 to aid them by bringing within the reach of all a knowledge 

 of what has been gained in the past and is being done at 

 the present time ; to show what is known and what gaps 



