4974 THE ZooLocist—JuLY, 1876. 
Aotices of Hew Books. 
Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Society. 
1875-6. Vol. 1I., Part 2. Norwich: Fletcher & Son. 
WE have, we believe, from time to time drawn the attention of 
our readers to the published reports of this exceedingly energetic 
and well-managed Society. The ‘ Transactions’ now under notice 
are eminently creditable to any local Natural-History Society ; 
and it is to be regretted that we cannot point to more so-called 
scientific clubs whose publications are equally meritorious, We 
are sorry to remind our readers—although we need scarcely do 
so—that the majority of the Natural-History Societies of Great 
Britain publish neither Reports nor Transactions, although the 
gathering and recording of observations is really their avowed 
object. 
The Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society has its head- 
quarters at Norwich: it consists of President, a dozen Vice- 
Presidents, a full complement of officers, amongst whom we observe 
names of high standing in the scientific world, and about one 
hundred and fifty members. Amongst the objects of the Society 
we may name two very important. ones, viz. :— 
“The protection, by its influence with landowners and others, of indi- 
genous species requiring protection, and the circulation of information 
which may dispel prejudices leading to their destruction. 
“The discouragement of the practice of destroying the rarer species of 
birds that occasionally visit the county, and of exterminating rare plants in 
their native localities.” 
If this Society had no other object than these it ought to have 
every support and good wish for its welfare from those who do not 
wish to see our rarities disappear, and some of the commoner 
objects in both our Fauna and Flora become objects of search, 
especially birds and ferns, both of which, in this metropolitan 
district, bid fair shortly to become extinct. 
The first report in these ‘ Transactions’ is that of the Treasurer, 
whom we would congratulate upon having so good a balance in 
hand as £21 odd: this, we may suggest to some other like officers, 
is a slightly exceptional thing; generally the balance is on the 
other side. 
