142 Corresponding societies. 



ference many new lines of work to be taken up by our local societies. In most 

 cases they already possess programmes which are pretty heavily weighted, 

 some societies perhaps undertaking even more than they can satisfactorily 

 accomplish; and I believe it would probably be better in most cases to 

 systematise and improve the existing work than to attempt the introduction of 

 new departments of study. The governing body in each society might well 

 be charged with the duty of seeing that the work is worthy of the present 

 position of science. The steady growth of scientific education in this country 

 during recent years ought to tell most favourably upon the character of our 

 local societies. New members come prepared with a groundwork of scientific 

 training unknown to most of the older members at the time they entered, and 

 as a consequence the work of the society should be lifted to a higher level 

 than that on which we were formerly content to let it rest. It is satisfactoiy 

 to note that in many cases this has been thoroughly realised, and indeed a 

 review of the proceedings of the various local societies at the present day shows 

 that a high standard of excellence is often attained." — Ed.] 



The Rev. J. O. Bevan, M.A., read a paper in support of the 

 following resolution : — 



"That the Committees of the Corresponding Societies be invited to lay 

 before their members the necessity of carrying on a systematic survey of their 

 counties in respect to ethnology, ethnography, botany, meteorology, 

 ornithology, archaeology, folklore. &c." 



In the course of his communication he spoke as follows : — 



" It is hereby suggested that the Conference of Delegates should select 

 one or more subjects of pressing interest, and undertake to bring before the 

 respective societies the advisability of undertaking systematic work (each in 

 its own district) in these directions. The affiliated societies, through their 

 Delegates, would be expected to make a return of the results — partial or com- 

 plete — at the ensuing meeting of the British Association 



In the choice of subjects three considerations (at least) present them- 

 selves : — 



(a.) They should be of a general kind, capable of being worked up by 

 the local societies in their respective districts. 



(b.J Preliminary arrangement should be arrived at whereby may be 

 determined the lines and limits of investigation, the mode of tabulation of 

 results, the scale of chart or map, the scheme of symbolical representation, 

 coloration, nomenclature, conventional arrangement of detail, the method, 

 form, size of publication, and the like. 



(c.) A special society or expert should be indicated as ready to advise in 

 regard to each of the particular subjects. 



" The ends to be gained are these : The taking stock of all facts by a con- 

 nected series of methodical surveys ; their registration before the corroding 

 effect of time, the amalgamation of race, or any other cause, puts it beyond the 

 reach of effort ; the full completion of surveys already begun ; the setting 

 forth of results in a manner directly susceptible of useful comparison. A 

 collateral advantage would be the discovery of a considerable amount of work 



