808 THE entomologist's record. 



The President, in his charming speech, gave an excellent resume of 

 the origin, the history, the aims, and successful results of the Birming- 

 ham Society. Some of the earlier speakers dwelt most strongly on 

 the work of the members being directed to experimental studies, when 

 the results might be handed over to be dealt with by the Professors of 

 the University, etc. Mr. Verrall preferred to look on the study of 

 natural history as a hobby, leading men to look into the wonders of 

 nature for themselves, whilst Mr. Tutt suggested that it would be a bad 

 thing for the Society if it became merely an appanage to the University, 

 claiming that this Society, like almost al] the most successful of the old 

 societies in the south-east of England, was formed by Avorking-men, 

 and that men of various tastes, but all with natural-history instincts^ 

 must still be the main source of support for this and kindred societies, 

 and that though many would never, and could not be expected to,, 

 reach the standard of work set by modern science, yet some would, 

 and that, when these had reached the necessary accuracy in their 

 work to amass scientific data, they would, most probably, deduce better 

 scientific conclusions than the University Professor, who could only 

 know, second-hand, the many details by which the worker himself 

 had obtained his results, and arrived at his conclusions. Mr. Collinge, 

 in a most interesting speech, supported the same view, holding that 

 the Natural History Society must still obtain its strength, and life, 

 and vitality from men of varied social position, who were naturalists 

 before everything, and that if they were sound naturalists, real science 

 would certainly grow out of their work, and its value be largely 

 increased by the help, always to be obtained within the Society, from men 

 whose studies tended in the same direction. Most of the speakers 

 dwelt on the formation of a City Museum as one of the most praise- 

 worthy pieces of w^ork that the Society, and its members in their corporate 

 and individual capacit}^ could undertake. We understand that first- 

 class rooms in the new Municipal Buildings have since been allocated 

 for this purpose. 



The South-Eastern Union of Scientific Societies, to which more 

 than 50 Societies in the south-eastern corner of England are affiliated, 

 held its autumn meeting at Tring, on November 27th. Some 75 

 members put in an appearance and were kindly received by the Hon. 

 Walter Rothschild, Dr. Hartert, Dr. Jordan, and Mr. Neumann, at 

 the Tring Museum. A most enjoyable and instructive daj^ Avas spent, 

 Mr. N. C. Rothschild joining the Entomological section in the 

 room devoted to Entomology. Later, tea was served in the dining- 

 room of "The Rose and Crown," after which Mr. J. W. Tutt pro- 

 posed, and Mr. Gwinnell seconded a vote of thanks to the Hon. 

 Walter Rothschild and his Curators for their great kindness, the 

 former and Dr. Hartert suitably replying, Mr. Rothschild kindly 

 expressing the hope that the members of the affiliated societies would 

 again hold a meeting at the Museum, or, if this were not possible, 

 that individual members and their friends would come for pleasure or 

 study, and that he would be pleased to place any special group of 

 natural history objects at the disposal of any student who might wish 

 to work at it, at the Museum. 



It is with the greatest regret that we note the death of Professor 

 Alfred Giard, who was President of the Entomological Society oi 

 France in 1896, and again in 1900. 



