8G0 REPORT — 1902. 



in their own county, and to take care that they are early and regularly 

 supplied to the more central institutions, where they will be frequently 

 applied for when it is known that they are readily accessible ? Printing a 

 few extra ct)pies is not expensive when the type is once set, and although 

 it is troublesome for a Society to hold stocks of its publications, it 

 would, if willing to supply back parts at a moderate price, take away 

 all excuse from those writers who are apt to ignore local work. 



Uniformity of publication appears to be past praying for, and federa- 

 tion of Societies does not appear to have hitherto been a conspicuous or a 

 lasting success, for reasons which it is needless to particularise. But a 

 common vehicle for the publication of the more important papers of the 

 Societies of a county or some other well-defined area ought to be made a 

 success, even at the cost of considerable sacrifice : it would be an untold 

 economy and convenience to the Local Societies themselves, and to those 

 who wish to buy and use their publications. I should like to mention 

 the ' Irish Naturalist ' as an effort in this direction, which has been a 

 conspicuous success for many years. 



Then we have museums in the county containing collections of con- 

 siderable local interest, and this suggests a further topic. Many Societies 

 are handing over their museums to county and town councils, in some 

 cases with considerable success. I would suggest to Societies that they 

 should retain a large share in the control of such museums until the town 

 and county authorities have been thoroughly tried. 



At rare intervals there arises in most localities someone with a keen 

 passion for museum arrangement and management. Treasure such a 

 person for all he is worth ; work him, unmercifully if necessary, but work 

 him hard ; give him a fairly free hand ; beg, borrow, or steal for his wants ; 

 and get everything you possibly can out of him while he lasts, for such 

 persons die young. If once a museum is got into thorough order, made 

 accessible and attractive, the good effect may last for half a generation— 

 possibly until another prodigy or the paid curator arrives. 



As a member of the Association and of some of its Committees I 

 should like to say a few words with regard to matters that have come 

 under my immediate ken. 



The Erratic Blocks Committee ; that which is tracing the course of 

 underground waters in Yorkshire ; the one studying the life zones in the 

 Carboniferous rocks ; the new Committee on Triassic fos.sils, and the ones 

 exploring Irish caves and registering type specimens of fossils — are 

 pursuing lines of research which some Local Societies are sharing, and 

 which others would do Avell to share. These will be spoken to by qualified 

 representatives at our next meeting. 



The taking of geological photographs is a matter which particularly 

 appeals to Local Societies, and has in many cases been taken up with 

 vigour and success. I should like to mention particularly the Belfast 

 Naturalists' Field Club, the Yorkshire Societies, those of Kent and the 

 South-eastern Union, those of Durham, Surrey, Warwickshire, Perth, 

 Manchester, Devon, Leicester, Lancashire, Staffordshire, and other 

 Societies which have afforded my predecessor and myself unfailing and 

 patient assistance. Surrey, Warwickshire, and some other counties are 

 organising a general photographic survey which includes geology, and the 

 Geologists' Association is collecting a photographic register of the large 

 field covered by its excursions. The Warwickshire Survey has blossomed 

 out into the National Photographic Record Association. It is a good 



