COBRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 463 



render valuable assistance. Forms of inquiry had been circulated largely 

 by these Committees, and it was suggested that any work done by the 

 Corresponding Societies should be on these forms printed by the British 

 Association. Mr. De Ranee stated that forms would always be supplied 

 to the Secretaries of Corresponding Societies applying for them. 



Dr. Crosskey made some remarks explanatory of the work of the Erratic 

 Block Committee. He stated that the assistance of the local Societies 

 would be particularly valuable in this inquiry, and that he would be 

 happy to supply the necessary forms to the Corresponding Societies in the 

 hope that they would be filled up. He urged upon the Delegates the 

 necessity for preserving these boulders, Avhich were everywhere being 

 broken up and were rapidly disappearing from off the face of the country.' 



Earth-tremors. — Professor Lebour stated that for some time past the 

 Nortli of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers had had 

 a Committee actively engaged on the subject of earth-tremors and their 

 possible connection with mine explosions. This subject was naturally 

 related to those of Sections A, C, and G of the British Association, and its 

 investigation might be powerfully promoted by them. Some of the Cor- 

 responding Societies might aid greatly in making and recording observa- 

 tions on earth- tremors in various parts of the country. The more exten- 

 sive the area over which such observations were made (if by competent 

 observers and with suitable instruments) the more valuable they become ; 

 but it was very important that there should be some general understand- 

 ing between the observers in different parts of the country, in order that 

 some degree of that uniformity which is so desirable in matters of this 

 kind should be attained. The cost of the expensive instruments necessary 

 would be much lessened if large numbers of them were used. The 

 question of earth-tremor observations was only one of many in which the 

 engineering societies and the British Association could be mutually useful, 

 the former carrying out the work and the latter lending the influence of 

 its official recognition and support. 



The Rev. J. M. Mello stated that colHery proprietors were generally 

 unwilling to spend money in investigations unless some very specific form 

 of inquiry was circulated. 



Mr. Hopkinson remarked that the Corresponding Societies, if supplied 

 with the necessary forms, would no doubt be willing to circulate them 

 among their members. Mr. Heywood thought the suggestion for ob- 

 serving and recording earth-tremors a most valuable one, and he remarked 

 that the Cardiff Society would be happy to assist in the investigation if 

 the formation of a Committee was sanctioned by the Association. 



Section D. 



The Committee of this Section was represented by Professor W 

 HiUhouse, M.A., P.L.S. 



Preservation of Native Plants. — In reply to a question by the Secretary, 



' The addresses of the Secretaries of these three Committees are :— 

 Underground Waters . C. E. De Eance, F.G.S., A.I.C.E., 28 Jermyn Street, London. 



S.W. 

 Erratic Blocks . . Rev. H. W. Crosskey, LL.D., F.G.S., 117 Gough Koad, 



Edgbaston, Birmingham. 

 Sea-coagtx Erosion . Wm. Topley, F.G.S., A.I.C.E., 28 Jermyn Street, London. 



S.W. 



