24 REPORT— 1897. 



A Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club . . Rev. J. O. T.evan, M.A., F.G.S. 



A B Yorkshire Geological and Polytechnic G. W. Lamplngh, F.G.S. 

 Society 



B Yorkshire Naturalists' Union . . . Professor L.C.Miall,F.R.S.,F.L.S. 



The first meeting of the Conference was held in the University of 

 Toronto on Thursday, August 19. The Corresponding Societies Com- 

 mittee were represented by Professor Meldola, F.R.S., Chairman, and Mr. 

 John Hopkinson, Secretary of the Conference. 



The Chairman suggested that, in view of the smallness of the gathering 

 (only eleven delegates being present), a paper on the Museums of Canada, 

 by Dr. Henry M. Ami, of Ottawa, be deferred to the next meeting. A.t 

 the Liverpool Conference the question of federation amongst the local 

 Natural History Societies of Great Britain had been referred to the 

 Corresponding Societies Committee, and the action of the Committee had 

 been embodied in the Report, which the Secretary would now read. 



Mr. Hopkinson then read the following Report of the Corresponding 

 Societies Committee : — 



The Corresponding Societies Committee of the British Association beg 

 leave to submit to the General Committee the following Report of the 

 results of an attempt made, since the Liverpool Meeting, to obtain the 

 opinions of tlie local scientitic Societies on the question of the desirability 

 of a much greater amount of federation among them than at present 

 prevails. 



In accordance with the decision of the Committee at a meeting held 

 October 29, 1896, copies of Mr. Abbott's scheme for the formation of 

 District LTnions of Natural History Societies (which was discussed at the 

 Liverpool Conference of Delegates of the Corresponding Societies) were 

 forwarded to the sixty-six Corresponding Societies and to fifty-eight others, 

 together with the following letter : — 



BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 

 Burlington House, London, W. 



Noveviber 1896. 

 Sir, — We are requested by the Corresponding Societies Committee to call your 

 attention to a scheme drawn up by Mr. George Abbott (General Secretary of the 

 South-Eastern Union of Scientific Societies) for promoting District Unions of Natu- 

 ral History Societies, a copy of which is inclosed. This scheme was discussed at 

 the Conference of Delegates of the Corresponding Societies of the British Association 

 held at the Liverpool Meeting of the Association last September, when the great ad- 

 vantages of federation were generally admitted, and some examples of it were 

 explained. At a meeting of the Corresponding Societies Committee on October 2!» 

 the Report of the Conference of Delegates was considered, and it vpas decided that, 

 as the circumstances in which the local Societies are placed are extremely varied, it 

 is desirable that each Society shall be asked its opinion on Mr. Abbott's scheme, and 

 as to what kind of federation it considers to be the best. We have therefore to state 

 that the Corresponding Societies Committee will be greatlj' obliged if your Society 

 will be good enough to favour them with its views on the subject at any date not 

 later than December 20, 1896. 



We are, Sir, yours faithfully, 



R. Meldola, Chairman, 

 T. V. Holmes, Secretary, 

 Corresponding Societies Committee, British Association. 

 The Secretary. 



