174 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 



afford a worthy occupation for the host Histologists and Physiologists 

 amongst you. 



It would be presumption on my part to attempt to teach Geologists 

 then.' duty, but, subject to their correction, I suggest they might utiUse 

 their local knowledge in checking, and rectifying where necessary, the 

 accepted geological map of the district ; howevei correct it may be in 

 its general arrangement, doubtless many details may be added to it which 

 would materially increase its value. If the idea be thought worthy of 

 adoption, the geologists of the Union may easily organise their labour so 

 as to obtain the best effects from it, the district may bo subdivided into 

 sections, in each of which a sub-committee, bringing to bear its united 

 local knowledge, could carry the work into effect with a comj)leteness 

 scarcely attainable in other ways. If the attempt should prove successful 

 probably other districts would follow the example, and ultimately, 

 through our initiation, the country might possess a general geological 

 map, with an abundance and an accuracy of detail, such as could only 

 be produced by the well-ordered work of an army of enthusiasts. 



Our midland disti'ict is rich in the objects of the study of the Botanist 

 and Zoologist ; their branches of natiu'al science are within the reach of 

 every one, and the favourite pursuits of many. Of the almost infinite 

 variety of vegetable and animal life, afforded by this fair field, much is 

 unrecorded ; aid in supplying this deficiency. Many great undertakings, 

 which would be a tax too severe upon the individual member, biu'dened 

 with the absorbing cares of his own vocation and family, may be 

 successfully accomx^lished by division of labour, and the work devoted to 

 their execution would be converted into recreation when subdivided and 

 carried out in association with friends of congenial tastes, all equally eager 

 to advance the progress of science. 



A system of interchange of specimens should be arranged, to supply 

 from the superabundance of one district the deficiencies of another. This 

 might be effected by an exchange column in the " Midland Naturalist;" 

 and I recommend that, when an object of singular interest has been 

 exhibited at a meeting of any society, the fact should be j)ubhshed in the 

 same medium, and, so far as possible, on application by the secretaries of 

 other societies, the loan of the object should be granted for exhibition 

 throughout the Union ; and further, it may be desirable on special 

 occasions to extend the princii)le to papers of exceptional interest. By 

 such and similar means the interest of meetings may be largely extended, 

 more especially to the advantage of the smaller societies, and the 

 districts with fewest natural advantages. 



The Union, if it contain a proportion of enthusiastic Naturalists 

 equal to that of the Birmingham Society, as doubtless it does, will afford 

 the means of oi'ganising extended marine excursions, such as to the coast 

 of Ireland, the Mediterranean, or elsewhere, in search of new fields of 

 observation in marine zoology, geology, and other branches of natural 

 science, and realise the day dream of our distinguislied marme zoologist, 

 Mr. W. R. Hughes. As this class of excursion involves the necessity of 

 chartering a steam yacht of capacity sufficient for open sea work, and 



