38 
BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT 
OF SCIENCE. 
CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES OF CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 
Report to the Hampstead Scientific Soctety of its Delegate. 
Owing to the Meeting of the British Association having been 
arranged to take place this year at Winnipeg, it was decided to 
hold the Annual Conference of Delegates of Corresponding Local 
Societies in London. The Conference was held on October 25th 
and 26th, in the rooms of the Geological Society at Burlington 
House, under the chairmanship of Professor A. C. Haddon, F.R.S. 
Your Delegate was present on both days. 
On Monday, October 25th, the Chairman gave an address 
consisting of suggestions as to the works especially suitable for 
Local Societies to carry out. He recommended intensive works 
in Natural History, Geology, Meteorology, and Anthropology, in 
the localities from which the Societies drew their members. He 
referred to Dr. H. R. Mill’s study of an area in the south-east of 
England, as a model of such work in its own domain. Mr. J. Gray 
read a paper on Anthropometry, exhibiting and explaining the 
instruments required, and showing the valuable work that Local 
Societies could undertake in contributing to a national survey of 
the physical characteristics of the people. 
The meeting of Tuesday, October 26th, was occupied with a 
discussion as to the advisability of seeking Government aid in 
the establishment of a fund for assisting Scientific Societies in 
the publication of original work. The discussion was opened by 
Professor R. Meldola, F.R.S. It was generally admitted that 
good original work was done by many Local Societies, whose 
resources were insufficient to allow of publication in their own 
proceedings. Much difference of opinion, however, was shown as 
to the advisability of seeking Government aid for such a purpose, 
some speakers expressing the opinion that the multiplication of 
local publications was itself objectionable, and that any good 
original work was readily received for publication by the great 
learned societies. C. O. BARTRUM. 
