115 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. J. Bdllautyne had listened with much pleasuie to the Presi- 

 dent's concise report of the Chib's progress. He particularly agreed 

 with what was said about the advantages of beginners relying on them- 

 selves instead of going to the leaders upon every occasion for assistance. 

 He was of the ojinion that if the President's suggestions were carried 

 out much better i-esults would be secured. Not only would the indi- 

 vidual students find a far greater interest in their work, but they would 

 impart it to others, and thus the influence and utility of the Club would 

 be widened and felt by a larger number. 



Mr. Fletcher endorsed what Mr, Ballantyne had said, but thought 

 it possible to carrv that spirit too far. There were certain difficulties 

 at the outset in studying any science which, although surmountable by 

 close application, were much more advantageously overcome and valu- 

 able time was to be saved by applying for help from those better in- 

 formed. It must, however, be only for help, not to have the work 

 done for them. He had heard with extreme pleasure of the good work 

 in ornithology which had been done by Mr. Lees. It was remarkable 

 that such results could have been obtained without having recourse to 

 what was the greatest objection to ornithology, the necessity for killing 

 the specimens, particularly in the breeding season. He did not con 

 sider that killing insects was such an objection to entomology. The 

 specimens were killed outright very rapidly, and were seldom allowed 

 to escape in a wounded and mutilated condition. Moreover, it was 

 certain that insects had not the higher feelings, as birds have, of afiec- 

 tion for their mates and their young, and he considered it pretty well 

 established that they could not feel pain in the same way cither. He 

 would be pleased to hear something more from Mr. Lees of the plan he 

 had followed. 



Mr. Lees said the plan was very simple, and consisted merelv of 

 going to the woods very early in the morning with a good field "lass 

 and note-book and sitting quietly watching the birds and making. notes 

 on their habits. He could not allow all the credit to be given to him- 

 self for the work recorded; an equal amount had been done by his 

 constant companion on these excursions, Mr. Norman Ballantyne. 



