2i8 The h-'ish Nahiralist, November, 



teacher and pupil. Kitber some natural object or occurrence to be seen 

 that has never been seen before, or some experiment to be made that 

 lias never been made before. It is this which fires the enthusiasm and 

 stirs the imagination, and makes scientific research so enthralling ; and 

 the educational work which the Local Societies can best perform is the 

 encouragement of original research. A good deal is already done by 

 some of them ; but on the whole how little compared with what might 

 be done by some co-operation between scientific workers and the 

 societies, and some organisation of the societies themselves. Education 

 requires teacher and pupil : it would not be enough in general that the 

 members of a society should be interested by the address of a specialist 

 and then be left to their own devices to imitate his work and endeavour 

 to research for themselves. After he has stimulated their interest, they 

 need his guidance and advice. But I believe that man}^ a scientific in- 

 vestigator could enlist an army of willing workers through the Local 

 Societies if he were given the opportunity of interesting them in his own 

 researches, of suggesting to them lines of simple investigation which 

 they could profitably pursue, and of continuing to guide them b}' advice 

 and criticism. 



Let the Local Societies initiate a new Science Extension movement, 

 in which they contribute from their members the willing workers who 

 are ready to act under the guidance and inspiration of those who have 

 had the advantage of special training and experience. Let them attract 

 new members with this object. There are so many persons anxious and 

 able to do something in the way of scientific work who only want the 

 sympath}' and guidance of a leader more experienced than themselves ; 

 such leaders may not infrequently have to be sought among the teachers 

 or researchers outside the societ}'. 



In this way, and by some such co-operation, will the professional cease 

 to be a professional, and the amateur cease to be an amateur^ when thej' 

 meet upon common ground in the local scientific societ}-. 



Surely anything that tends to break down the barrier between the 

 professional scientist and the amateur, between expert and layman, is 

 for the good of scientific progress. That the one should ever be actually 

 discouraged by the other seems almost incredible; and yet one has to 

 make the humiliating confession that this happens again and again. 



In this connection I would beg all who can to read the most fascinat- 

 ing and illuminating address delivered to one of our societies, the York- 

 shire Naturalists' L'^nion, b}' Mr. Lamplugh, when he was its President 

 in 1906— an address which protested forcibly against the unhealth}' dis- 

 tinction between amateur and professional, and put forward a plea for 

 the need of the amateur spirit in scientific work. If I have succeeded in 

 this Address in making a practical suggestion that embodies the spirit of 

 his appeal, I may hope in some measure to repay the debt that 1 owe to 

 one who has always inspired me with the example of true and undivided 

 allegiance to the call of pure science. 



