184 EXPLORATION AND REGISTRATION WORK 



mittee from year to year. I have also been struck with the lack 

 of practicability of many of these recommendations from my 

 point of view — that is, of one having the success and progress of 

 his society at heart. Such matters as " The Collection of 

 Statistics concerning Trained Chemists employed in English 

 Chemical Industries" ; investigations concerning "The Resistance 

 of Road Vehicles to Traction," or the " Consideration of means 

 by which better practical effect can be given to the introduction 

 of the Screw Gauge proposed by the Association in 1884," and 

 the like, although subjects of professional importance, are but 

 little adapted to enlist the co-operation of a body of amateur 

 biologists, geologists, and archaeologists. It seems to me that 

 the subjects most likely to prove attractive to the members of 

 the greater number of our local Societies are those connected 

 with such branches of science as are within the opportunities and 

 abilities of amateur observers, and which at the same time are 

 such as will arouse the enthusiasm and *' county-patriotism " of 

 the supporters of the Societies. It is difficult at all times to 

 obtain a sufficient number of members to permit of the carrying 

 out of the necessary work of the Societies (meetings, publica- 

 tions, etc.), and it is still more arduous to collect funds for 

 any piece of work supplemental to the routine business. I 

 suggest that local Societies will best aid in their humble way the 

 progress of science by confining their energies to the acknow- 

 ledged three main objects of their existence — the minute study 

 of the natural history and archaeology of the counties ; in 

 educational work of a propagandist character ; and in assisting 

 in the formation of well-planned local museums and scientific 

 libraries in their own districts. 



All holding similar views will cordially approve of such pieces 

 of work as the photographic survey of a county, or of the 

 botanical survey advocated in a paper placed upon the agenda at 

 the present meeting. And to be welcomed is the project for the 

 preparation of a map index to prehistoric remains, so ably advo- 

 cated by Mr. C. H. Read, F.S.A., at the Belfast meeting of this 

 Committee.^ I should like to expatiate briefly upon these ideas, 

 and, as I have no authority to speak for other counties, I will 

 confine my remarks to Essex. 



2 Abstracted in the last part of the Essex Naturalist atite pp. 123-6. 



