l82 MEETING OF CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES* 



The main feature of the second Conference of Delegates, held 

 on Tuesday, Sept. 15, was a valuable communication from our 

 Secretary, Mr. William Cole. Under the title of -'A suggestion 

 with respect to Exploration and Registration Work for County 

 Local Societies," the writer pointed out the way in which local 

 scientific activity might be encouraged by financial assistance 

 from the Education Committees of our County Councils. 



[These suggestions are printed on another page (p. 183). Ed.] 



Mr. Cole's suggestions were well received by the delegates, 

 and have since been sympathetically discussed by the Corres- 

 ponding vSocieties Committee. Certain legal difficulties with 

 respect to the allocation of the Technical Instruction money have, 

 however, been raised ; but it may be hoped that these in due 

 course will be overcome. 



Mr. Herbert Stone, the President of the Birmingham 

 Natural History and Philosophical Society, submitted a letter 

 relating to the question of railway fares for members of Local 

 Societies on excursions. He held that tickets at reduced fares 

 should be granted to members individually, and not necessarily 

 going in parties. S.uch a privilege, it appears, is conceded to 

 anglers and golfers, but has been refused to members of natural 

 history societies. 



The Assistant-Secretary of the Royal Meteorological Society 

 appealed to the various local societies for copies of any papers 

 and reports which they may publish relating to meteorology, in 

 order that the titles may duly appear in i\\e International Catalogue 

 oj Scientific Literature^ which is being assisted, so far as Britisli 

 meteorology is concerned, by the Society. 



The Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing, F.R.S., begged the delegates 

 to assist him in obtaining specimens of well-shrimps, for his 

 report on the Underground Fauna of Great Britain. These 

 little freshwater crustaceans are apt to escape notice, or to be 

 considered not worth collecting. 



Miss Sargant, of the Holmesdale Natural History Club,^ 

 expressed her desire to obtain information from local naturalists,. 

 in connection with her investigations on British orchids. 



She is anxious to receive particulars as to the length of time in the year 

 during which the leaves of any native orchid are above ground. 



[The leaves are commonly so inconspicuous that they escape notice out of the 

 flowering seasons]. 



