708 REPORT—1885, 
as one of general prevalence, marking a certain stage in the progress of 
society. Others consider it to be merely a special and local manifesta- 
tion of the associative impulse, frequently important, but by no means 
universal or essential in any stage. The fact that, while it prevails among 
the Iroquois, the Dakotas, and the Ojibways, it is not found among the 
Crees or the tribes of Oregon, seems to lend countenance to this view, 
and gives, at all events, particular interest to the inquiry in the present 
case. This and other questions remain for future investigation. For the 
reasons which have been stated, the present report is unavoidably imper- 
fect. It is offered chiefly for the purpose of preserving the information 
which has already been obtained from sources of the highest authority, 
and of thus affording a trustworthy basis for further inquiry. 
Report to the Cowncil of the Corresponding Societies Committee, 
consisting of Mr. Francis Gatton (Chairman), Professor 
A. W. WILLIAMSON, Captain DouGLas GaLTon, Professor Boyp 
Dawkins, Sir Rawson Rawson, Dr. Garson, Dr. J. Evans, 
Mr. J. Hopkinson, Professor MELpoua (Secretary), Mr. Wurr- 
AKER, Mr. G. J. Symons, and Mr. H. GrorGE FoRDHAM. 
Tur Corresponding Societies Committee beg to report that they have 
received and considered applications from fifty-two Societies, and they 
recommend that those of the thirty-nine whose names are entered in the 
accompanying list be granted. 
The Committee in making their selection have interpreted the phrase 
‘ local scientific investigation,’ which occurs in the new Rules (see Report 
1884, pp. lxv. and Ixvi.), according to the tenor of the examples they gave 
of such work in the Report 1883, p. 319, taken from among the subjects 
of inquiry assigned to Committees of the Association during the past 
five years, and rearranged as follows, in the order of the Sections that are 
now severally concerned in them:—(A) Luminous meteors; meteoric 
dust in various localities; rainfall; underground temperature. (C) Ero- 
sion of sea-coasts ; height of underground waters; erratic blocks. (D) 
Migration of birds at lighthouses and lightships; periodical natural 
phenomena (flowering of plants, &c.) ; injurious insects (their first ap- 
pearance, &c.). () Working of Education Code in elementary schools ; 
rudimentary science in schools. (G) Effective wind-pressure on buildings. 
(HH) Photographs of typical races and crosses ; ancient earthworks; pre- 
historic remains ; anthropometric collections. 
They have placed only one Society (the Liverpool Astronomical Society) 
on the selected list which published no results of local scientific investiga- 
tion during the past year; they have included it, and some others whose 
publications of that description were few, on account of their general 
scientific activity and influence. 
Two Societies—the Inverness Scientific Society and the Isle of Man 
Natural History and Antiquarian Society—have been included in the 
selected list, and the titles of the papers furnished by their secretaries, as 
read before them in 1884, have on this occasion been catalogued, although 
the publications have not yet been received. It is proposed that for the 
future Rule 5 be strictly adhered to. 
The Committee are glad to find that the Societies they have selected 
prove to be evenly distributed throughout the United Kingdom. 
