THE MIDLAND NATURALIST. 



" Come forth into the light of things, 

 Let Nature he your teacher." 



IJ'orchwurth. 



OPENING ADDRESS. 



_ The first idea of a Midland Union of Nntm-al Historv 

 Societies dates back about fom- years. Earlv in IhtI ?F 

 Worth Natural History, GeologiLl, and Il^uana I'soci t^ 

 held a very successful soiree, in which the Bmnhiaham NatilrS 

 History and Microscopical Society took part. That Cthit ,vas 

 m every way so satisfactory, and gave sich proofs ofTl e vahie of 

 co-operation, that many who attended it expressed a deSfm 

 more mstances of a lilve kind. Mr W G Viuih '^ "^.V"^ 

 Honorary Secretary of the Bir^i^ slt^^e^ S 

 an Annual Congress should be held, and proposed the ^ombh at on 

 n some way, of our Local Natm-al History Societies. AlTwh 

 t^^ie suggestion Avas favom'ably received and formed the subject of 

 frequent conversations, and although it was generaUv aZntfpd 

 that an association of the khid could scarcely So be atol 

 with valuable results, no practical step was LmedLely Si 



It was not tiU the 17th August, 1876, that anything definite 

 was done. A proposal was then made, at a meeth^- of e 

 Committee of the Bn-mmgham Societv, which lu^S h! the 

 apponitment of a sub-committee, (consistmg of MessTS lTw on 

 Tait, John Morley, and James Bagnall,) which was requested to 

 obtain information as to the possibility of formmg a Union of 

 he ^atm-a History Societies of the MicUand District. In the 



tlie Bn-mmgham Society on " Suggestions for a Congress of 

 Natm-al History Societies." The Sub-committee, 'havini 

 reported on what had been ascertamed, were further diected 

 to proceed mth the formation of the Union. In liL matter 

 considerable delay was caused by chfficulties m obtZhi^ 

 uiformation and m elicitmg replies. Delegates havSig S 

 appomted by the various societies who were%ilhng to join the 

 tnioii, the Sub-committee summoned them togeth?v and tliev 

 me at the MicUand Listitute, Bn-mmgham, on Au^^us^ 28tiri877'^ 

 At this meetmg the basis of the Union was laid down, and a Council 



elected. 



