196 REPORT — 1889, 



Boc of Methven, and it had been destroyed in all probability by 300 or 

 400 black gulls settling in the bog and devouring everything in the shape 

 of vegetation. Another plant which had been completely exterminated 

 ■was one known as Mertensia maritima, which grew in shingle on the Bay 

 of Nigg, and which had been destroyed by the shingle having been used to 

 make concrete blocks to be used in the construction of a pier near at 

 hand. Then a grass which grew in a patch near the Moray Frith had 

 been destroyed by the overturning of a tree, which caused a large hole 

 into which all the moisture of the patch drained ; this grass was Melica 

 uniflora. The Committee found that the disappearance of plants was 

 caused in a great measure by the injudiciousness of individual bota- 

 nists, and also by botanical exchanging clabs who held out inducements 

 for the collection of 80 or 100 specimens of extremely rare varieties. 

 The Committee hoped to present a report the following year. 



No recommendations or suggestions were made from the other 

 Sections. Under Section H, Mr. Gray expressed a hope that some means 

 would be taken to circulate the approved signs for the registration of 

 prehistoric remains on the maps. 



Societies not enrolled as Corresponding Societies. 



Mr. White submitted a list of Societies which he suggested should 

 become associated with the British Association. They were, of course, 

 Societies which published papers and did local work. He thought that 

 every county should be in some way represented at the meetings of the 

 Conference of Delegates. In the list he had included only one or two 

 antiquarian or archgeological Societies because these published papers on 

 prehistoric remains, which was probably the limit which ought to be drawn 

 in that direction. 



The Secretary pointed out that this could not be considered as an 

 official invitation to the outstanding Societies to become affiliated with the 

 British Association, as their Committee had no power to issue such an 

 invitation ; but, having considered the list prepared by Mr. White, he 

 (the Secretary) felt no doubt that most if not all the Societies mentioned 

 therein would be admitted if application were made to the Committee in 

 the usual way. Professor Meldola thought the Delegates might do good 

 by calling the attention of the Societies in their own counties to the 

 advantages arising from a general co-operation of all the working local 

 Scientific Societies in the United Kingdom. 



^o^ 



At the conclusion of the Conference votes of thanks were passed to the 

 Chairman and Secretary. 



The Corresponding Societies Committee have received applications for 

 retention from all the Societies on the list, and they recommend that the 

 General Committee should sanction their retention. The Corresponding 

 Societies Committee have also received and considered applications from 

 six new Societies, and they recommend that four of these, viz. : the 

 Hampshire Field Club, the Malton Field Naturalists' and Scientific 

 Society, the Rochdale Literary and Scientific Society, and the Wool- 

 hope Naturalists' Field Club, should be enrolled as Corresponding 

 Societies of the British Association. 



