810 THE entomologist's record. 



the Fellows who are not placed within the charmed circle by the 

 existing Council, to have any part in the management of the Society. 

 It really seems ridiculous, and we tried to persuade ourselves that we 

 were misinterpreting some clause or other, but no, there is no doubt 

 about it, the emendations, instead of making it easier for the unofficial 

 member to find expression for his views, which is their professed 

 object, absolutely takes away the very slight chance of doing so 

 which he has under the present Byelaws. We want the members of 

 Council to believe that the average body of Fellows is equally capable 

 of honest thought and of right and just action with themselves, and 

 would select the men most suitable for the post. Time works changes 

 in everything. Men slowly, and without knowing it, get out of touch 

 with the society ; such men would, naturally, in any democratic form 

 of election fall through, and more active men take their place. The 

 Council carries on the business of the society ; this business is many-sided 

 and must, if it is to be well done, be carried on by the at-present active 

 Fellows of the society. If the Council is to be elected because of past 

 services rendered, and not for present services being rendered, not only 

 must the business be left to a few, but afi'airs stagnate. Things never 

 stand still, they go on or fall back. We fully recognise the necessity of 

 ha\ing on the Council members who thoroughly know the history 

 and traditions of the society, and can preserve that continuity in its 

 action to which such knowledge is essential. Apart, however, from 

 the fact that the unofficial member will not forget this more often than 

 the Council itself, it must be reiuembeied that that element of strength 

 is well protected by the circumstance that the important officers of the 

 society — the secretaries, the treasurer, and the librarian — are practi- 

 cally permanent members of the Council. It is, therefore, essential 

 that reasonable opportunity be given for the addition of young blood. 

 The remarkable thing is that we supposed this view of the position to 

 have been largely conceded, but the proposals of the Council go in 

 precisely the opposite direction. A simple democratic result might 

 have been arrived at in many ways. The nomination by the officers 

 of say a score of names of eligible members from whom the twelve or 

 fifteen members to form the Council should be elected by ballot, 

 suggests itself. To these might have been added any suggested by 

 the Fellows themselves at any of the three meetings preceding the 

 election. A similar result might have been obtained by the bringing 

 forward, at the November and December meetings, a proposed list and 

 asking for additions thereto. What is wanted is a fair straightforward 

 ballot for the return of men in touch with the Fellows, not the passage 

 of a cut-and-dried list under the name of an election. What is the 

 more remarkable in ottering such a scheme to a body of intelligent and 

 educated gentlemen, is that there are, on the Council, men who, in 

 their public life outside the society, sftand for progress. That the 

 "shibboleths" of continuous office and the feeling of responsibility 

 should weigh with some members of the Council is understandable, 

 but that others should be satisfied to follow such a lead is incompre- 

 hensible. Rarely does a body of educated men give itself so completely 

 away as does the Council of the Entomological Society of London in 

 these proposed new Byelaws, or rather, prop)Osed alterations of the old 

 ones. No wonder that the Council elected a capable pleader for its 

 case, but what the Fellows want, is not to be treated as units to be 

 pleaded with, but as a capable body of thinkers to whose common 

 sense an appeal is being made. 



