igO EXPLORATION AND REGISTRATION WORK. 



Committee. I am aware that such subjects as those grouped 

 under {c) and (d) might be considered as more " practical " and 

 more worthy of public support. But it may be anticipated that 

 in the event of these county investigation committees being 

 estabUshed, subscriptions in aid of " unpractical " investigations 

 would come in, just as the Field Club has on several occasions 

 raised considerable sums for camp and denehole explorations. 

 Interest in the work would grow, and the established county 

 committees would quickly gather up and enfold scattered 

 energies in aid of their systematic labours. 



I cannot refrain from expressing disappointment at the 

 somewhat colourless "recommendation" arrived at by the 

 Corresponding Societies Committee after consideration of the 

 proposal. In all patience we have had enough of barren 

 " recommendations " and " resolutions," for a dozen years past. 

 The plea now is for a practical working scheme, and I hope that 

 some effort will be made to band together the county scientific 

 societies to attempt a realization of some such plans as that 

 •outlined above. Our quiet country scientists are too apt to 

 forget that they have votes and a personal interest in good 

 education equally with more outspoken folk ; they should not be 

 too timid to accept Sir Norman Lockyer's advice, and become 

 judiciously " political." Well-timed pleading might induce 

 candidates for county work and honours to give heed to the 

 ■claims of science in the disposition of the large sums now 

 available for higher education. The disingenuous cry of '' save 

 the rates " sometimes raised against analogous suggestions is not 

 applicable to the trifling grants asked for ; these sums are almost 

 infinitesimal compared wdth claims put forward on behalf of 

 subjects of at least not greater " practical " and educational 

 importance than some that I have indicated.] 



