572 EEPORT— 1900. 



Delegates should forward their views on the subject to the Corresponding 

 Societies Committee for consideration at their meeting in November ; 

 and as some Delegates were not present during the discussion, copies of 

 the following letter were sent to every Delegate nominated to the Dovey 

 Conference ; — 



British Association, Burlington House, London, "W,, 

 October 5, 1899. 



Dear Sir, — At the second meeting of the Conference of Delegates at 

 Dover, September 19, a discussion took place as to the best means of 

 improving the proceedings at these meetings. It was ultimately decided 

 that any recommendations from the Delegates on that matter, if sent in 

 not later than November 7, would be considered by the Corresponding 

 Societies Committee at their meeting later in that mouth, 



I am, dear Sir, 



Yours truly, 



T. V. Holmes, 

 Sec, Cor. Soc. Com. Brit. Assoc. 



When the Corresponding Societies Committee met on November 24, 

 1899, twelve replies to the above letter had been received from the 

 representatives of fourteen societies; and in March 1900 some addi- 

 tional recommendations were received from the Yorkshire Naturalists 

 Union. 



The various suggestions mostly deal either with proposed alterations 

 in the times of meeting, with the desii-ability of a room in which Delegates 

 might hold informal discussions between the meetings of the Conference, 

 or with improvements in the proceedings at the Conference. 



As regards the days and hours on which the Conferences have hitherto 

 been held, the Committee found it so difficult to suggest any others which 

 might not prove to be accompanied by still greater disadvantages that 

 they have refrained from proposing any alteration in them. 



The Committee considered it not desirable to propose to alter the rule 

 of the British Association that only members, not associates, can become 

 Delegates. 



The Committee agreed that it is desirable when possible that a room 

 shall be provided at the Bradford and other future meetings of the 

 Association, in which Delegates may meet, become acquainted with each 

 other, and hold informal cliscussions between the meetings of the Con- 

 ference. 



As regards a suggestion that an agenda paper should be sent to the 

 Corresponding Societies some time before the British Association meeting 

 in order that Delegates might come better prepared to the Conference, 

 it was decided that although the circular issued in Jul}' is inter alia an 

 agenda paper, it would be well to add a clause to it asking that the 

 Secretary of each Corresponding Society receiving it should bring the 

 subjects for discussion at the Conference before the notice of the Delegate 

 of the Society. 



It was also decided by the Committee that the circular drawn up 

 some years ago by Dr. Garson stating the rules respecting the Corre- 

 sponding Societies and the advantages granted to them should be reprinted 

 and sent to the Corresponding Societies in March ; and that at the 

 same tinie a notice should be sent inviting the Societies to coi^si^Jer "vyhat 



