180 ANNUAL MEETING GENERAL BUSINESS. 



The President next moved, that it be a recommendation of this 

 meeting to each individual Society, that the subscription to the Union be 

 raised to one shiUing. He said he was unable to say what work the 

 Torkshire Union had done, when its members only conti-ibuted a 

 Bubscription of one penny per annum. Such a subscription appeared to 

 him to be ridiculously small and inadequate.* 



The motion was not seconded ; but an animated discussion ensued, 

 in which Mr. C. J. Woodward, Mr. Lawbon Tait, the Rev. C. F. 

 Thornewill, Mr. G. H. T^ioo, the Rev. W. H. Elliot, Mr. E. Hollier, 

 and others took part. It was ultimately resolved on the motion of the 

 President, seconded by Mr. G. H. Twioo, " That it bo a recommenda- 

 tion from this meeting that the annual subscription be raised, and that 

 honorary secretaries be requested to report to a future meeting of the 

 Union the opinion of their societies upon the subject." 



The Treasui-er's report was then read by Mr. Edward W. B.U)Oeb, 

 (in the unavoidable absence of Mr. E. D. Hamel.) It showed that the 

 total receipts for the year, contributed by twenty-one societies, oonsisting 

 of 2,683 members, were £11. -is. lOd. The report was adopted. 

 Mr. Lawson Tait read the following 



BYE-LAWS. 

 1. — That the Annual Meeting of the Midland Union of Natural 

 History Societies shall be held, from time to time, in the towns in 

 which the various Societies of the Union are located ; that the 

 President of the Society in connection with which the Annual 

 Meeting shall be held, shall be the President of the Union for the 

 year, and, ex officio, a member of the Council ; and that where 

 more than one Society in the same town is in the Union, the 

 question of the Presidency shall be detei-mined by those Societies. 



2. — That the Annual Meetings of the Union shall be held in 

 May, and that all the arrangements for the same shall be made by 

 the Society or Societies of the town in which it is to be held. 



* This is a subject of so mncli importance, that we gladly print a circnlar which 

 the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union have issued on the work to be done, and the 

 necessity for an increased subscription : — 



"The Yorkshire Natur.nxists' Union. — The Secretaries have been directed by 

 the Council to call your attention to the desirability of a Hiiflicient income being at 

 once raised to enable the Union to commence the publication of reports and papers 

 upon the Natural History of the county, as well as to defray the necessary expenses 

 connected with the meetings. 



" It is intended to issue the following papers, &c., which are now in preparation, 

 as soon as the requisite funds have been raised — 



" 1. A history of the West Kiding Consolidated Naturalists' Society, from 18G1 



to 1876 inclusive. 

 " 2. A map of Yorkshire, sho-sving the districts, based upon the rivor-drainage 

 system, into which the county will be divided, for the purpose 

 of investigatmix the fauna and flora. Tnis map will be accom- 

 panied by an" explanatory pa|ier, describing in words the 

 boundaries of the various districts. 

 " 3. The reports and proceedings of the Union and of its Sections, together 

 with snch papers and catalogues as may be considered of 

 sufficient value by the Council. 

 " It is perfectly obvious that the contributions paid by the affiliated Societies, of 

 Id. per member per annum, arc quite inaduquato for this purpose, and you will see 

 that the total income required, more especially for the first year, when the ruap ia 

 to be published, is vei-y considerable. The Council consequently Imvo conlideuce in 

 inviting you to contribute to the extent of your ability and inclination ; and while 

 hirge amounts are sought from all those who arc able to give them, then luisli it to 

 he understood, that small amounts are likewise accex»table. Among the suma 

 already given are such amounts as Two Shillings, Ilalf-a-Crowu, Five Shillings, 

 Half-a-Guinea, Oue Guinea, and Two Guineas. Subscribers of 2s. Gd. and upwards 

 will be entitled to receive the publications of the Union. 



" The Council trust that the response to this appeal may bo such as to justify 

 them iu ordering the early publication of the map and reports."— [Eds. M. N.] 



