
WATOURE 

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1870 

NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES 
tale 
ee must not be supposed that we expect, from Societies 
which have been but recently established, works of 
the importance or the completeness of those which we 
have mentioned * as emanating from the naturalists of 
Northumberland and Durham ; or even such volumes as 
those annually issued by the Woolhope Club. It must 
be borne in mind that it is by no means necessary, 
or even advisable, that a young society should do much, 
or even anything, in the way of publication. The expe- 
riment of a local magazine has been tried in connection 
with more than one body, but in each case the results 
can scarcely be considered satisfactory. The Liverpool 
naturalists issued monthly such a publication—at first in 
lithograph, afterwards in print—which contained papers 
on subjects of general as well as of local interest. The 
High Wycombe Natural History Society started a similar 
magazine, on a similar plan, but issued quarterly instead 
of monthly; this continued for four years, but is now 
among the “things that are not.” The Folkestone 
naturalists tried a like publication and with a like re- 
sult ; one year was sufficient to bring it to a close. 
The failure of these periodicals is scarcely a thing to 
be regretted. The only scientific value of such local 
publications, it cannot be too often repeated, lies in the 
prominence given to local Natural History. Itis not to be 
supposed that people even now, much less in the future, 
would refer to them for information—say on the Darwinian 
theory, or any other matter of general importance and 
interest—which would be found in fuller detail in maga- 
zines of wider circulation. Nor are popular descriptions 
of plants or insects of any greater value ; and a physio- 
logical discovery of any importance should be communi- 
cated to some one of the many journals now open to 
Naturalists. If such a discovery is recorded in a local 
publication, the chances are that it will be overlooked by 
the majority—simply because it is not in its proper place, 
The plea that Natural Science may be rendered more 
popular by such periodicals is worth but little ; there are 
other magazines which, while wisely excluding local lists, 
are at once readable and scientific, and to them people 
really anxious to learn will turn for information. 
The Folkestone Natural History Society has made a 
step in the right direction by publishing this year “A List 
of Macro-Lepidoptera occurring in the neighbourhood of 
Folkestone.” This list occupies twenty-four pages, and is 
sold in a wrapper f»r 6¢. As far as we know, this is the 
first of its kind ; other bodies have issued local lists with 
their annual reports, but we have none published sepa- 
rately at a low price, like this of the Folkestone Society. 
The example is one which we hope will be followed ; the 
funds of even a small field-club would be adequate to 
cover the expenses of printing, and the actual value to 
science of such a list is far greater than that of any number 
of local magazines containing papers of “ general interest.” 
The same society has in hand a list of the flowering plants 
*See Nature, Vol. ii, p. 459. 
VOL, III. 


141 

of the district on the same plan, which will probab'y 
appear next year. The Belfast Naturalists’ Club has this 
year issued with its report the first of a series of local 
lists; this has already been noticed in NATURE. 
The system of dividing the labour of list-making, which 
is now coming into general use, may be regarded as a 
modification o the mode of working by sections, which 
we noticed in a previous paper. Oneor more members 
engage to superintend the making-out of some one list 
of the mammals, birds, lepidoptera, coleoptera, mollusca, 
fossils, phanzrogam3, or cryptogams. Bact of ihege 
branches is, of course, capable of subdivision ; and, 
where there are many workers, such subdivision is 
advisable. The Westmoreland naturalists have deputed 
one of their number to collect and examine the Batrachian 
Ror of the district ; and the investigation of certain 
“critical” genera and species might well occupy a careful 
observer for a considerable period. But we would lay 
especial stress upon the necessity of posting up regularly 
every scrap of information ; books should be kept for the 
purpose, in which every discovery should be entered. By 
this means, and by this means only, can the actual state 
of the knowledge of any branch be ascertained ; and it is 
easy to arrange for publication when required notes thus 
conveniently brought together. Whether for publication 
or not, however, and no matter how few and incomplete 
the records may be, it is the first duty of every Society, 
great or small, to register all its observations, not only for 
present benefit, but for the use of those who come after, 
Although we would not urge upon every Society the 
“rushing into print,” which is nowadays too common, we 
think we have reasonable grounds of complaint against 
one or two bodies, which have been established for some 
years, and number many members, in that they have not 
published more regarding the results of their labours. We 
may instance as an example the Manchester Field 
Naturalists’ Society ; and, as a notice of one or two of 
the more popular clubs falls within the scope of this 
paper, we may take this as a favourable specimen of 
them. Established ten years ago, chiefly through the 
energy of Mr. Leo H. Grindon, assisted by a few other 
Manchester naturalists, this Society soon counted its 
members by hundreds. At one time about five hundred 
and fifty names were enrolled, and, at the present date, 
between two and three hundred appear on its list. The 
work of the Society consists in the investigation, by 
means of excursions during the summer session, of the 
Natural History of the neighbourhood, These excursions 
are largely attended, and after the ramble the members 
assemble at tea, when addresses on scientific subjects are 
given. During the winter occasional sovvées are held, 
which are rather too much like evening parties, with a 
little dilettante science thrown in; the room being 
decorated, extensive “toilettes” abundant, and instru- 
mental music performed during the evening. The 
scientific “ halfpennyworth of bread” to this “intolerable 
deal of sack” is provided by an exhibition of objects on 
a large scale, and the delivery of a paper or two, or a 
lecture, at some time during the proceedings. Of course, 
neither excursions nor sozvées can be got up on this large 
scale without a proportionate outlay ; and the result of 
this is that, although the annual subscription is 1os. 6d, 
—much too high, by the way, for such a body—the 
I 
