GEOLOGY IN THE ASSOCIATION 193 



communicating their experiences in research and dis- 

 cussing methods and problems, the annual gatherings 

 of the British Association have had a most important 

 influence in quickening the onward march of science 

 as a whole. No department has perhaps benefited 

 more from this influence than geology. The annual 

 volumes of the Association's reports, in which the 

 progress of this science is chronicled, form a long 

 series of much interest and value which must be con- 

 sulted by everyone who desires to trace the successive 

 stages of that progress. 



' (3) In another important respect geology lies 

 under deep obligation to the Association for the 

 liberal grants which it has received from the funds 

 annually distributed for the furtherance of research 

 in the various departments of science. Many a 

 geological investigation would never have been under- 

 taken save for the help and encouragements given 

 by these donations. The excavations at Kent's 

 Cavern, above referred to, were substantially aided 

 in this way by annual grants. Indeed, cave-explora- 

 tion has been assisted by the Association not only 

 in this country, but abroad, for a sum of more than 

 2600 has during the last fifty years been allotted to 

 this branch of investigation. It will thus be seen 

 that in the long list of the Association's benefactions 

 the science of geology has had its share. 



6 (4) A less obvious but by no means a negligible 

 influence of the Association on scientific progress 

 should be recognised in the personal intercourse 

 which its meetings provide, not only by bringing the 

 cultivators of each branch of science into touch with 

 each other, but also by commingling all the branches 

 and of forming opportunities for friendly converse, 

 and sometimes conjoint discussions in questions 



