268 NATURAL SCIENCE. October. 



The British Association only can do what is required. It must 

 act as the guiding brain, and, through an organising secretary, help to 

 bring these needed unions into being. The societies must all be 

 brought into touch with it, and not remain, as so many are, unconscious 

 of its aims and work. The societies in many cases are like an army 

 waiting for a leader to guide them further along the pleasant paths of 

 science to fresh fields for work. 



The following is the plan I would submit for your consideration : 



Districts. — The United Kingdom should be divided into fifteen or 



twenty districts, in each of which all natural history societies should 



be affiliated for mutual aid, counsel, and work. Existing unions 



should perhaps be imitated, at any rate not disturbed. 



Geographical lines should decide their size, which might vary in 

 extent and be dependent, in some measure, on railway facilities. From 

 time to time these areas might be subject to review, and necessary 

 changes made. 



Congress. — Each of such unions would have its annual congress, 

 attended by delegates and members from its affiliated societies. This 

 would be held in a fresh town every year, with a new president, some- 

 what after the manner of the British Association itself. The congresses 

 would probably take place in spring, but two should never be held on 

 the same day. 



These unions would render important help to local societies, 

 would bring isolated workers together, assist schools, colleges, and 

 technical institutes and museums, start new societies, and revive 

 waning ones. Through these annual meetings local and petty 

 jealousies would lessen or turn to friendly rivalries — each society 

 trying to excel in real work, activity, and good science teaching. 



Further, economy of labour would be accomplished by a precise 

 demarcation of area for each local society. This would be understood 

 as its sphere of work and influence ; in this portion of country it 

 would have a certain amount of responsibility in such matters as 

 observation, research, and vigilance against encroachments on foot- 

 paths, commons, and wayside wastes. 



These unions might also, through their Central Committees, 

 bring about desirable improvements in publication, but it would 

 certainly not be desirable, in all cases, to go in for joint publication. 

 In this, as in other matters connected with the unions, co-operation and 

 not uniformity must be our aim. 



Union Committees. — Each union will need a general secretary and a 

 committee, all of whom should be intimately acquainted with methods 

 of work and the best ambitions of local societies. 



Corresponding Members. — This is another necessary development. 

 Each local society should appoint, in every village in its district, a 

 corresponding member with some distinctive title, and certain privi- 

 leges and advantages. 



The work asked of him would be to — 



