377 



literature and the fine arts. It extends to scientific institutions* 

 Formerly science was little understood or cared for. Very few were 

 those who made it a study or who took any interest in its pursuits. 

 But how different at the present day. Now science is the one 

 thing we seem to hear most about go where we will, and in behalf 

 of which louder demands are being made every year. Scientific 

 societies have multiplied beyond enumeration, and all who belong to 

 them are expected to do their share in the work they profess to 

 undei-take. You know, in the case of the Royal Society, how much 

 more the qualifications of those who seek its fellowships are inquired 

 into than formerly. But it is not merely these higher bodies to 

 which the public eye is directed. Those occupying a much more 

 humble position are equally looked after. It is beginning to be 

 asked in some quarters what are our Field Clubs doing ? What 

 have they to show in proof that they have not forgotten their proper 

 calling? These questions closely concern ourselves. For thoiigh 

 we may have our volumes of " Proceedings" to produce, in which 

 are many valuable papers and some of great local interest, complaint 

 has still been made that, with a few praiseworthy exceptions, Field 

 Clubs are not attending generally or at least sufficiently attending 

 to that particular department of inquiry which they engaged to 

 undertake. The natural history properly so called of the district 

 in which they are located — its zoology more especially — is left in a 

 great measure untouched, while many of the papers they print, 

 however excellent in themselves, might find a place equally well in 

 the publications of any other society ; and there is yet another 

 complaint, viz., that the published " Proceedings" of these Clubs 

 have so very limited a circulation beyond their own locality that 

 they are unavailable to the great body of naturalists scattered over 

 the country. 



I will not dwell on the first of these charges brought against us, 

 having spoken of it before. But perhaps the time is come when it 

 may be desirable to give our consideration to the second. Those 

 •who were present at the last meeting of the British Association at 

 Edinburgh, or who, like myself, have only read a report of its 

 proceedings in the different periodicals, are aware that the matter 

 last referred to was the subject of a paper read to the biological. 



