237 



THE CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES' 



COMMITTEE OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION, 



YORK, 1906. 



REPORT OF THE CLUB'S DELEGATE, 



F. W. RUDLER, I.S.O., F.G.S,, Secretary of the Conference of Delegates. 

 {Read November 2\th, 1906.) 



AT the first meeting of the Delegates held under the 

 chairmanship of Sir Edward Brabrook, C.B., who fitly 

 represented the new group of " Associated Societies," the chief 

 subject for discussion was that of Meteorology. Dr. H. R. 

 Mill, the distinguished authority on rainfall, introduced the 

 subject by an admirable address, in which he commended the 

 study of meteorology as one peculiarly fitted for cultivation by 

 provincial societies, inasmuch as it needed for its prosecution 

 comparatively simple appliances, whilst it developed habits of 

 strict accuracy and method in the observers. At the same time 

 it contributes to the advancement of knowledge in directions 

 much needed. The determination of local climate can be best 

 effected by the work of local societies, since it requires long 

 continuous records usually beyond the power of individual 

 observers. Dr. Mill remarked that a society should be, by its 

 nature, immortal — a remark which, it is hoped, may be applied 

 to the Essex Field Club. But as our Club does not contemplate 

 the formation of a meteorological station the subject need not be 

 enlarged upon. 



Of more direct interest to the Club were the proceedings 

 at the second meeting. This was held under the chairman- 

 ship of Mr. John Hopkinson, for many years the honorary 

 secretary of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society, and was 

 attended by the President of our Club. The main subject of 

 discussion at this meeting was that of County Photographic 

 Surveys, which was introduced by Mr. W. Jerome Harrison, of 

 Birmingham. In an elaborate paper Mr. Harrison traced the 

 history of the survey movement, which was really initiated by 

 him, when, in 1889, he proposed a photographic survey of 

 Warwickshire. From Warwickshire the work has spread, and 

 surveys are now in active operation in Worcestershire, Kent, 

 Surrey, Yorkshire, and Edinburgh, as well as in Essex. Mr. 

 Victor Taylor had kindly sent your delegate some notes on the 

 photographic survey of Essex, which he used. Mr. Harrison 



