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new records of some species of plant or insect are noted for 

 some locality in which the species had hitherto been un- 

 observed, but one searches in vain for any evidence that the 

 members are instructed in the factors which govern animal 

 distribution, or the spread of plants from their original floral 

 limits to fresh localities. The microscope is brought to bear 

 to display the marvels of pond life, but it is seldom that the 

 field naturalist is made to realise that he is observing the 

 first indications of the appearance of organised tissues for 

 the performance of special functions. There is an abundance 

 of investigation of plants and animals as individual organisms, 

 there is very little attempt to teach the origin and history of 

 groups of similar individuals by means of the great principle 

 of natural selection. 



If it be objected that the groundwork of the sciences 

 can be learnt from books, we reply that though that is 

 undoubtedly true, nevertheless the ordinary member of a 

 field club is not, as a rule, a student of text-books. Those 

 who are advanced specialists in some particular branch of 

 field work can look after themselves, but a large proportion 

 of people who join field clubs do so precisely because they 

 cannot do this, either from lack of time or from want of 

 previous teaching on scientific lines. It is on behalf of 

 this class that we appeal to the heads of these institutions 

 to endeavour to place before their members the general 

 principles of the sciences with which their particular society 

 deals. 



That there is urgent need for improvement in field work 

 on these lines there is no doubt, and in this journal we 

 are attempting to help the field-worker in this direction. 

 It has been a great encouragement to find our efforts have 

 been already appreciated, and we have received many letters 

 expressing the opinion of the writers that such articles are 

 needed. We intend to follow up this line, and deal with 

 such subjects as we have indicated above from time to 

 time. But we should be glad indeed if we could convince 

 secretaries of societies that they have a special duty in this 

 direction ; and if in drawing up their programme of subjects 

 for the reading of winter papers they would give more time 

 to the great principles of Biology, Geology, Archaeology, 



