282 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly November 



or rather elect delegates, some of whom attend, and some 

 of whom do not. But we contend that the mere attendance 

 of one individual as a delegate from a society which has 

 250 members is entirely beside the point. What is wanted 

 is that all those members who can find time should feel it 

 a duty and a privilege to be at the annual meeting. In 

 that way only can the influence of the Association be made 

 effective throughout the country. At present a very large 

 number of societies, with a considerable proportion of 

 enthusiastic members, are either ignored by the Association 

 or ignore the Association, or both. Again we ask, Why ? 



The answer to this question will occur at once to every 

 member of a field club or kindred society who reads these 

 lines. We doubt whether it is so apparent to the British 

 Association officials, or surely they would have taken steps 

 to remedy it before now. In conversation with the few 

 members of these societies who were present at the recent 

 meeting, we found absolute unanimity on the point, and if 

 the Association will take the trouble to inquire, they will 

 readily find the explanation. If no one else does so, and 

 if the Association is in earnest in wishing to obtain the 

 assistance and support of these numerous societies, we will 

 ourselves express what we know to be the opinion of these 

 bodies. 



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Sir Norman Lockyer, having suggested the need of 

 organisation, proceeded to point out the work which, in his 

 opinion, such an organisation should take up. Briefly, the 

 two most important questions which he thought called for 

 immediate effort were " the lack of completely efficient 

 universities, and our neglect of research." After an elaborate 

 comparison between ourselves and America and Germany 

 in these matters, he came to the conclusion that we required 

 at least eight new universities in Great Britain, which 

 should be provided by the State at a cost of ,£24,000,000. 

 With regard to this proposal we have only to say that 

 what is first required is the setting in order of our system 

 of earlier education, so as to produce a larger number of 

 capable students. To begin with more universities is to 



