sESsrox 1897-98. 



xxv 



J'^thnographical Siirrei/. — rrofL-ssor Jladdoii said tliat it eeemed 

 to hiiu that, wliilo the local Societies 2)i"operly spend a great deal 

 of time on natural history, they neglect the study of man, who is 

 an animal, and deserves to be studied as thoroughly as the lower 

 animals Local Societies miglit well undertake a survey of the 

 ethnography of their own districts. He would be sorry to draw 

 students away from the study of other branches of natural histoiy, 

 but he tliought that thei'e must be many members of the local 

 Societies who did not study the fauna, tlae flora, or the geology 

 of their locality, but would be interested in ethnographical work 

 of some kind. There are several anthropological investigations 

 which could be attempted almost anywhere. Besides observations 

 on tlie colour of the hair and eyes, the stature, the shape of the 

 head, and other physical characters, the customs and beliefs of the 

 people and their folklore should be studied. As examples, mention 

 need only be made of local customs on particular days, or the 

 numei'ous and very interesting singing games of children. These 

 might seem to be trifling matters, but many such customs and 

 games are the only records we have left to us of the religious rites 

 and social customs of our ancestors, and therefore they are by no 

 means to be despised. It would also be advisable for the local 

 scientific and photographic Societies to interest their members in 

 depicting the geology, natural history, and ethnology of their 

 district, the latter especially. Many opportunities for the study 

 of British anthropology are vanishing or becoming modified, just 

 as surely as are corresponding details in the islands of the Pacific. 



Professor Haddon desires that the following be added to his 

 remarks: — The length of the schedule prepared by the Committee 

 for the Ethnographical Survey of the British Isles having deterred 

 some from undertaking to make observations and measurements, 

 it has been decided to issue an alternative, simpler one, which 

 will probably take the following form : — 



Other subjects brought before the Conference were the appoint- 

 ment of a Committee for obtaining a collection of Canadian 

 geological photographs; the investigation of green oysters and 

 the causes which may account for the colour ; and the importance 

 of the accurate use of generic and specific names in the publica- 

 tions of local Societies, and of giving full and accurate descriptions 

 of new species. 



VOL. X. — PAiiT vri. 



