262 The his/i Naluralisi. November, 



THE DKI.KGATKS COXFKRKNOi. 



The Conference of Delegates of Corresponding Societies 

 and Sections of the Association appears to have been full of 

 life, and practical suggestions of useful work to be carried out 

 by local Natural History Societies and Field Clubs abounded. 

 The Conference met on two days, and the interest was well 

 maintained. Much of the work suggested was of a nature 

 eminently suited to our Irish Field Clubs, and we trust will 

 be brought under their notice. In this connection we learn 

 with amazement that the Belfast Club, which, through its 

 delegate, has taken an active part in this Conference for many 

 years, was not represented at the meetings held in its own 

 city ! Neither, we are informed, was the Belfast Natural His- 

 tory and Philosophical Society represented, but the fact that 

 their chosen delegate was one of the Local Secretaries of the 

 Association explains, though it hardl}^ excuses, the non- 

 representation of that influential bod\^ H. J. Seymour, repre- 

 senting the Dublin Field Club, alone upheld the cause of Irish 

 science. As to the Belfast Field Club, the Committee would 

 have done better to retain as delegate the member who has 

 served them so long and so well in that capacity. 



The annual meeting of delegates to the Association appointed by 

 local societies was held at the Queen's College on September nth and 

 i6th, Professor W. W. WaTTS, Birmingham, presiding. On the first 

 day the Chairman, in the course of an introductory address, dwelt on 

 the importance of local Societies, such as Naturalists' Field Clubs, and 

 urged the desirability of these organi.sations keeping in touch with one 

 another, so that united work might be the result. Research work 

 should be the great aim of these Societies, and that conference he 

 described as the nerves of the body of the general Association. He also 

 urged on local societies to preserve their publications, and instanced the 

 Irish Natiiralhi as a conspicuous success for many years past. Societies, 

 he thought, should exercise great care in the matter of handing over to 

 town and county councils local museums, which, in many cases, con- 

 tained collections of considerable local interest. 



Dr. Garson, Assistant General Secretary to the Association, presented 

 the report of the Corresponding Societies' Committee. He pointed out 

 that there was great remissness on the part of secretaries of local 

 Societies in making the necessary reports to the Association, Last 

 year there were seven delegates who had made no reports at all to 

 their Societies. This was a verv serious matter, and should be taken 



