38 



institution of the country, and indeed of the whole world/* 

 had its origin in the meetings of some half dozen thoughtful 

 men at one another's houses, it is fair to assume that the 

 humble local society usually sprang from some similar source. 

 If another example is wanting I would point to one well 

 known to you all, " The Entomological Club," which was 

 founded in 1826 and still continues its embryonic existence, 

 its eight members and their numerous friends meeting from 

 time to time at one another's homes with the simple object 

 of friendly intercourse ; and who shall say how many more 

 formal institutions have had their inception in the meetings 

 of this ancient club. 



Such considerations, although outlining the probable origin 

 of most of our smaller societies, are general rather than local, 

 and the local element is introduced by the decision as to the 

 limits of the area over which operations are to extend. These 

 may be limited to a county or the immediate neighbourhood 

 of some particular town or district, but it is an advantage 

 that they should be defined. It is also obviously of advantage 

 that the multiplication of individual societies should not be 

 unduly great. One strong society in a given district is 

 unquestionably better than two or three struggling ones. 



Then as to the objects of a local natural history 

 society. Although, as already shown, these may largely 

 consist of the encouragement of friendly intercourse among 

 its members and the free interchange of their views, there 

 are other matters of equal importance that should not be 

 neglected. Among these may be mentioned the thorough 

 investigation of the fauna and flora of the district over 

 which the society's operations extend. Well-organised field 

 meetings may do a good deal towards this end, but they 

 need the support of individual members, the result of whose 

 investigations should be reported at the meetings of the 

 society, and duly chronicled by the secretary or other 

 person appointed for the purpose. By such means the 

 society is able to gradually accumulate full data for its 

 district, and if similar work is carried out by a number of 

 the societies affiliated to such a union as I have already 

 described, and the union amalgamates the information, the 

 result cannot fail to be of use, not only to the present 

 workers but to generations to come. 



In provincial towns one often finds a museum, and it is to 



* An Italian society which is still in existence somewhat ante-dates our 

 Royal Society, but it is a comparatively small affair and takes no very promi- 

 nent stand among- the scientific societies of the world. 



