COKKESPONWNG SOClETIESk 



5^1 



detailed exposition of Lis views. Here he makes it clear tbat, Lc'Sides man s 

 attacks, various actions of Nature are involved in the uncertainty of the occur- 

 rence of various species, and that while for some inexplicable reason a species 

 ■will disappear for years, it suddenly will reappear in great abundance. He deals 

 especiallv with the Large Copper, the Clouded Yellow, the Pale Clouded lellow, 

 and the'Large Blue butterflies. He shows that the profusion or rarity of these 

 species is greatly influenced by natural causes, and, speaking of the Large Blue 

 and Mr. Frohawk's discoveries in 1903 in Cornwall, points out that the life- 

 history of many insects is still only partly known. Nevertheless, he advocates 

 the re-stocking and protection of rare animals and plants. The task, however, 

 should be undertaken in a scientific spirit, and allowance made for a certain 

 proportion of failures. 



Professor Carpenter (Dublin) said that the main point to remember in any 

 scheme of preservation or introduction of rare forms was that those species which 

 tended to become extinct were usually of commercial value. 



Mr. W. P. D. Stebbing mentioned how very often valuable work could be 

 done in the distribution of beautiful plants and insects when they were becoming 

 scarce through increasing cultivation of some of their areas. He particularly 

 instanced what had been done this last season by Mr. Henry Preston (Lincoln- 

 shire Naturalists' Union) in collecting the caterpillars of the Peacock butterfly, 

 which was becoming scarce in his part of tlie county through the ruthless 

 destruction of nettles, in keeping them through the larval and chrysalis states 

 till they emerged as perfect insects, and then setting them free in areas less likely 

 to be disturbed. 



Mr. Davey in his replv said that he thought when desirable Continental 

 species would thrive in this country they should be introduced in spite of 

 Professor Cole's objection that it would nullify much of the work on the distri- 

 bution of the species. As an example of the recent destruction of interesting 

 forms ho mentioned a case where pheasants were lately introduced into woods 

 where they had never been preserved before., and the consequent loss in a short 

 time of much of the district's more valuable fauna and flora. 



The Rev. J. 0. Bevan (Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club), after a short dis- 

 cussion, brought forward the following resolution: 'That this Conference of 

 Delegates of Corresponding Societies aflirms the desirability of bringing under 

 the notice of Local Societies the necessity for preserving the fauna and flora of 

 their respective districts as against wanton destruction or careless and needless 

 collecting.' 



Mrs. Hobson (Belfast Naturalists' Field Club), in seconding the proposal, 

 reiterated the uselessness of the ordinary collection of stuffed birds and such 

 things. The only way to prevent this kind of destruction was to influence public 

 opinion. 



The resolution was carried unanimously. 



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

 exhibited his method for the permanent recording of Natural History or other 

 observations by means of the Card Catalogue System, spoke as to the great value 

 to workers of such a catalogue, but said that care was needed in outlining such 

 a scheme that it would retain its usefulness whatever the size. In a paper 

 which he bad had printed, and which was distributed to the members, he 

 analysed the aims and methods of natural history societies, and the large 

 amount of time spent with very little result. He then gave a summary of the 

 progress and the future scheme of worlc arranged for his society, and finally 

 submitted estimates of the initial cost of the tray, cover, and cards as exhibited, 

 and tliP general arrangement of the MoUusca Card Catalogue, 



