586 REPORT— 1900. 



the E)Tatic Blocks of the British Isles wished for the active co-operation 

 of the members of the Corresponding Societies. Indi\idual workers could 

 greatly aid this investigation, but the most effective assistance would be 

 given by the organisation of local Boulder Committees. He would there- 

 fore suggest that the Delegates should impress their respective Societies 

 with the importance of organising local Boulder Committees, and of com- 

 municating the results attained to the Erratic Blocks Committee. It 

 might be useful to add that the Secretary of the Geological Photographs 

 Committee is Professor W. W. Watts, and the Secretary of the Erratic 

 Blocks Committee Professor P. F. Kendall. 



Section D. 

 The Rev. E. P. Knubley said that Section D was anxious to encourage 

 the Corresponding Societies to go on observing birds, and especially the 

 migration of birds. A new light had been thrown on the migration of 

 birds by the observations of lighthouse and lightship keepers. Until 

 recently it was thought that all birds had the same lines of flight, but 

 now it was known that there were sevei'al. It was now known that the 

 common thrush went backwards and forwards from our islands during 

 about ten months of the year. It was found that the wagtail came 

 regularly along the western coast, but was unknown on the east. It was 

 desirable that they should learn how long the commonest English birds 

 sat upon their eggs before hatching them. No one at present could 

 answer that question. Then the subject of the food supply of birds was 

 one which might well be studied. The life histories of insects was also a 

 most interesting subject to work at. 



Section E. 

 Mr. Sowerbutts said that he had some suggestions to make, though he 

 could not precisely say that he made them on behalf of Section E. He 

 thought that the Corresponding Societies should be placed permanently 

 on the list so long as they conformed to the rules of the Association, and 

 not be elected for a year only as at present. Secondly, the Delegate 

 should be held responsible for the carrying out of anything required by 

 the Association, and should be the correspondent with the Secretary of 

 the Corresponding Societies Committee. It should also be his duty to 

 report to the Society he represeated on the subjects in which the British 

 Association desired the co-operation of the Corresponding Societies. 

 Before the end of the year he should forward to the Corresponding 

 Societies Committee a copy of his report. And he should forward to the 

 Secretary of the Corresponding Societies Committee before March in each 

 year the name of any subject that his Society might wish should be con- 

 sidered by the Corresponding Societies Committee. He also proposed 

 that a Delegate about to resign his post might introduce a new Delegate 

 on sending his name to the Secretary of the Corresponding Societies 

 Committee, the new Delegate not having the power of votiiig, and not 

 becoming a member of the General Committee. Other questions also 

 needed consideration. How long, for example, should a Corresponding 

 Society remain on the list which did nothing asked for by the British 

 Association 1 He thought that any Society which did not send a Delegate 

 year after year should cease to be connected with the Association. And 

 he would strongly urge also the enforcement of the Delegate's duty of 

 .reporting to his own Society and sending a copy of the report to the 

 Secretary of the Corresponding Societies Committee. 



