CORRESrONDING SOCIETIES. 



Secoxd Conference, August 14, 1894. 



The Corresponding Societies Committee were represented by Professor 

 R. Meldola (CLurman), Dr. Garson, Mr. Hopkinsou, Sir Rawson Rawson, 

 Mr. Symons, Rev. Canon Tristram, Mr. Whitaker, and Mr. T. V. Holmes 

 (Secretary). 



The Chairman said that with reference to the discussion at the Ligt 

 Conference, he hoped that those delegates who were situated in places 

 where there were local museums would do their best to further tlie 

 resolution then passed, and report progress at the Conference next year. 

 They had now to consider work done in connection with the various 

 Sections, beginning with Section A. 



Section A. 



Meteorological Photography. — Mr. Clayden remarked that two years ago 

 he had asked to be put into communication with gentlemen willing to 

 photograph clouds and other meteorological phenomena. He had been put 

 into communication with photographers, but the number of photographs 

 sent had been very small. Nevertheless, an almost sufficient collection 

 had been received. He would, however, be grateful for photographs of 

 lightning showing anything abnormal. Now and then he read of the 

 remarkable results of a whirlwind in some district, when it was too late 

 for him to take steps to have the effects photographed. But if, in such 

 cases, the secretary of a local society would get photographs taken at once, 

 and send them to him, such records would be most valuable. 



Sir Rawson Rawson inquired if Mr. Clayden had the photographs of 

 storms and lightning recently exhibited at the Royal Society, and Mr. 

 Clayden replied that he thought he had a considerable number of them. 



Mr. Holgate thought that if Mr. Clayden wrote to the secretary of a 

 local society, the latter would always be able to obtain information as to 

 the existence of photographs showing the results of a whirlwind or other 

 abnormal occurrence. Mr. Clayden replied that he had often tried that 

 plan, but had usually found that the damage had been cleared away, and 

 that he was too late. It was therefore desii'able that the secretaries of 

 the local societies should arrange for photographs. 



Mr. Hembry inquired whether Mr. Clayden had received photographs 

 showing the results of a thunderstorm a few weeks ago in which a church had 

 teen struck and two men killed. Mr. Clayden replied that he had not. 



Mr. Symons remarked that much help could 1)e given by local ."societies 

 if they would send in reports promptly. The difficulty was that individual 

 members did not feel personally responsible in the matter. Everybody's 

 business was nobody's business. 



Remarks on the advantages to be derived from, and the means of securing 

 inci'eased co-operation between British Association committees and local 

 societies were made by Mr. Kenward, Mr. Gray, and Mr. Symons. 



Earth Tremors. — Mr. Davison said that in the last Report of the 

 Earth-tremors Committee there was a description of a bifilar pendulum 

 invented by Mr. Horace Darwin. It had been tried for a year at 

 Birmingham, and in consequence of experiments made there a new form of 

 instrument now exhibited was being constructed. Its cost would be about 



