The Field Naturalist's 

 Quarterly 



Vol. II. AUGUST 1903 No. 7. 



Editorials. 



We have always contended that the value of the work done 

 by the field societies and clubs in this country is but 

 imperfectly recognised both by the general public and by 

 those who are considered to be more " scientific " workers. 

 We are also of opinion that this apathy, and in some 

 instances almost contempt, for field work is gradually- 

 becoming a thing of the past, chiefly because the increase 

 in the number of publications which deal with field work is 

 giving that work greater prominence, and also because these 

 societies are becoming more and more numerous, and there- 

 fore extending their influence. We have had in our cor- 

 respondence columns recently examples of the complaints 

 made against the methods of some of these societies, which 

 in some cases are doubtless well founded ; by no means in 

 all. Another correspondent writes in this issue pointing 

 out what he considers another failing, and one which cer- 

 tainly deserves consideration. He says that many clubs 

 fritter away their time and energy in aim/ess observation of 

 anything and everything which happens to come to hand, 

 instead of undertaking some definite plan of campaign 

 vol. 11. — no. 7. n 



