PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 7 
President on the evening of the first day; on the following 
days the various sections commence their sittings, and their 
work is, in each case, also opened by an address from their 
respective Presidents ; next, papers and reports from the 
various committees appointed to conduct scientific re- 
searches during the preceding year are read, followed by 
discussions upon the same. These discussions form one of 
the most valuable features of the British Association’s 
meetings. 
The sectional meetings are held from 10 a.m. to 4°30 p.m., 
after which there are usually short excursions to places of 
interest to the geologist, botanist, chemist, antiquarian, and 
others, and in the evenings there are lectures and conver- 
saziones ; also receptions and entertainments given by the 
residents and local bodies to the members. 
The social entertainments cannot be looked upon as mere 
pleasure-making functions ; they perform a real part of the 
work of the Association, as they enable the members to 
meet, and make the acquaintance of others from outside of 
their own special sections, and much good is done thereby, 
as it tends to break down some of the barriers of 
specialism. 
The principal cities of the United Kingdom emulate one 
another in the cordiality of their invitations for the Axssocia- 
tion to become their guests; and the formal invitation is 
sometimes made by a deputation consisting of the Mayor and 
members of the Corporation, and prominent residents, sent 
for that special purpose. Thus at the Liverpool meeting 
there were deputations from the cities of Bristol and 
Glasgow, to press their invitations. The local authorities 
make arrangements to defray a large part of the expenses 
of the meeting, and the whole of the expenses of the various 
entertainments ; so that the income of the British Associa- 
tion is free to be spent upon its scientific objects. The 
meetings are arranged for two years in advance, and as 
invitations are usually offered for several places at once, a 
selection has to be made. 
