050 REPORTS OX THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 



Professor G. il. Carpenter introduced the following subject : — • 



On Detailed Natural History Surveys of Restricted Areas, an importayit 

 work suitable for Local Societies. 



He spoke of the advantages to be derived from a survey of the flora and fauna 

 of restricted areas. He described the researches lately carried out in Larabay, a 

 small island off the coast of co. Dublin, described in the ' Irish Naturalist ' for 

 January and February 1907. Five animals new to science and twelve additions 

 to the Britannic fauna are among the results of this survey, which threw much 

 light on the immigrations of animals and plants on the east coast of Ireland. At 

 present the North Bull, a grass-covered sandbank in Dublin Bay, known to be 

 less than a century old is being explored in the same way by the Dublin 

 Naturalists' Field Club. It is hoped that this work will enable the course and 

 order of immigration into new areas to be traced. Next year a survey of Clare 

 Island, oft' tlie coast of co. Mayo, is to be begun. He urged the importance of 

 the study of such restricted areas in other districts, as likely to help in the 

 solution of geographical problems. 



With regard to his use of the word ' Britannic,' he suggested that it should 

 be used when referring to work relating both to Great Britain and to Ireland, the 

 ■word British being used Avhen speaking only of the former. 



Dr. G. H. Pethybridge (President Dublin Naturalists' Field Club) desired to 

 call attention to the exhibition of photographs illustrating local Natural History 

 and Archreology, which that Club had organised for the benefit of members of the 

 British Association visiting Dublin. Included in the collection were several 

 photogi'aphs illustrating some of the points referred to by Professor Carpenter in 

 his remarks on the natural history survey of Lambay Island and of the North Bull. 



Mr. It. C. Millar (Edinburgh Geological Society) said that in Edinburgh, on 

 the suggestion of Sir John Murray, the Scottish Natural History Society has made 

 arrangements for obtaining, classifying, and keeping up to date a systematic 

 record of information acquired and observations made regarding the physical 

 features, flora and fauna, of the Forth Valley. Field's Catalogue is subscribed 

 for, and the Society stores the cards containing the information and observations 

 in a card cabinet, Dewey's Decimal Tables being used as a convenient index for 

 arranging them. 



Mr. F. A. Bellamy (Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire) 

 mentioned the great interest obtained from the study of the flora and fauna of an 

 area which he was investigating. 



Mr. Frederick Long (Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society) called atten- 

 tion to the fact that a few years ago Mr. Robert Gurney established a small 

 laboratory on Sutton Broad, in Norfolk, for the use of anyone wishing to prosecute 

 research work. Mr. Balfour Browne worked there for some time, chiefly on the 

 Mollusca of the Broads. A lady at the present time is working at the flora of 

 the district. Board and lodging are provided at the laboratory for 30«. a week. 

 While staying there Mr. Browne made a map of the district, marked out in 

 squares for convenience in noting localities. 



Professor Carpenter, in reply, spoke as to Avhat it was proposed to do in the 

 investigation of Clare Island. 



Mr. Henry Davey (Brighton and Hove Natural History and Philosophical 

 Society) brought forward his paper — 



TJip Advisability of Re-stocking Haunts whence Fauna and Flora 



Jiave Disajypeared. 



This paper having been printed in the ' Brighton and Hove N. H. and Phil. 

 Soc.'s Ann. Report for 1908,' pp. 28-31, a short abstract only is now given. 



The author, having shown that the problem is less simple than appears and 

 that the larger Mammalia are most in danger of extinction, while the more 

 beautiful and rare birds also require protection, turns to the Lepidoptera for a 



