Address to the L.N.U. 133 
” 
“Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society” was formed in 
1870, and published their first report ; the number of members 
is now 250. ‘The ‘Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union” came into 
existence previous to 1883, and the number of its members is 
nearly 600. Both these, like our own, had small beginnings ; 
they have, however, succeeded in extending the knowledge of 
‘Local Natural History. In looking forward to the future I can 
see no reason whatever to think that our own Union will not 
be equally successful, and certainly in this great and diver- 
sified county it will never either lack material to work on or fall 
short in variety and interest of subjects. 
So far, our efforts have been individual ones, and isolated and 
spasmodic ; now, as a united band and numbering specialists in 
various branches, we shall become a representative body having 
a local habitation and name, and have much greater facilities 
for an exchange of opinion and for the proper collection and 
diffusion of facts. It must not, however, altogether be inferrad 
that nothing has hitherto been done by the sons of Lincolnshire 
for the increase of physical science; indeed, we have just cause 
of pride to see in our roll of honour such names as Issac Newton, 
of Woolsthorpe ; Matthew Flinders, of Donington ; John Franklin, 
of Spilsby ; Joseph Banks of Revesby Abbey; and more recently, 
Charles Anderson, of Lea. Of those now living, either within 
or without our boundaries, who are doing good work, it would 
be invidious to make direct personal mention; sufficient is it to 
say that we include amongst ourselves all that is both necessary 
and capable for making this Union a great anda lasting success. 
Lincolnshire is the second largest county in England, its total 
length being 75 miles by 48 in breadth, and containing 1,777,879 
-acres, 85 per cent. under cultivation. ‘The surface presents a 
very considerable diversity of character, sea-coast, marsh, wold, 
-moor, heath and fen, and some very considerable woodlands 
with much pleasant and typical scenery without anywhere 
rising into the grand and strikingly picturesque. 
The country is not readily divided into what are called faunal 
areas—that is, districts more or less compact, with well-defined 
boundaries, between which—one or the other—faunal distinc- 
