9 
peculiarities. Such an excursion should be distinctly geological, 
botanical, or zoological ; the special branch of research should 
be made known beforehand to each section or group, so that 
each Member may be prepared to take his part in the actual 
work of that day under the direction of the Member in charge of 
the party. This would mean real work, and the steady pursuit of 
knowledge, instead of the discursiveness which has hitherto 
prevailed at these Field Excursions and, as true knowledge 
systematically acquired is said to be its own true reward, so we 
may safely assume that private study will follow the discovery of 
some botanical specimen, the unearthing of fossils—crustacea—or 
the capture of fine specimens of insect life. 
It is, I consider, distinctly a loss to the Society that those 
reports of our Meetings, which used to be given by the Press, no 
longer appear. It is to be hoped that, for the benefit of the 
Society, some account of our proceedings will again find a promi- 
nent place in the daily and weekly journals of the town. 
Lastly, I wish to make some observations with reference to 
the Annual Excursion of this Society. Since its foundation an 
opportunity has been offered to the Members to visit some 
interesting spots in Sussex, which possessed special features of 
interest to the Naturalist, the Geologist, and the Archeologist. 
The early part of July has been the time chosen on account 
of the length of day, and also because the scenery of this county 
is seen at its best in that month. The attendance of Members 
has been fitful ; sometimes a fair gathering has been obtained, at 
others a very small proportion of Members expressed their in- 
tention of being present. Last year great care was taken to select 
a locality which it was thought would attract a large attendance, 
and yet the actual outcome was a party of barely a score, even 
including visitors and reporters. Was this due to indifference or 
thoughtlessness, or an unwillingness to give up one day to the 
pursuit of knowledge or social recreation ? 
But it was a source of vexation to find that the best efforts 
of the Executive could not secure a larger attendance than 
_ eighteen at dinner. I earnesly hope that this indifference or 
heedlessness will be swept away in the future, and that the 
Members will feel that they have sadly neglected the obligation 
devolving upon them of supporting the Society to their utmost. 
In contrast with this state of things, let me mention the suc- 
cess which invariably marks the Annual Excursion of the Sussex 
Archeological Society, at which from one hundred to one 
hundred and thirty members and visitors invariably assemble to 
honour the occasion, and enjoy the papers which are read on the 
ancient churches, or domestic buildings at which a halt is made, 
and yet the cost of that Excursion is somewhat in excess of that 
_ of the Natural History Society. 
