26 REPORT— 1897. 



answer — 90 out of 124 — have abstained either because they are wholly 

 uninterested in schemes of federation, or are more or less unfavourable to 

 them. Judging from answers received, it would appear that Societies 

 having a whole county or some district of similar size as their sphere of 

 operations are usually indifferent, or averse, to union with adjacent counties 

 or districts. Members of such Societies do not generally feel a strong 

 local interest in larger areas, and at the same time they do not need the 

 help of other Societies in the publication of their transactions. On the 

 other hand, experience shows that a large number of tlie smaller local 

 Societies are associations rather for lectures and excursions than for local 

 scientific work. And the brief annual reports they issue are of little 

 interest, except to their own members. Consequently they also are unin- 

 terested in questions about federation. 



A feeling unfavourable to federation may result fi-om the existence in 

 a district of two large towns of nearly equal importance within a few miles 

 of each other. Thus both the Bath Natural History and Antiquarian 

 Field Club and the Bristol Naturalists' Society report that some years ago 

 an unsuccessful attempt was made to promote some kind of union among 

 the local Societies there. 



A glance at the Federations of the past may be of use. Three or four 

 years ago the Midland Naturalists' Union and tlie Cumberland and West- 

 morland Association both came to an end, after the former had existed 

 sixteen years, and the latter a few months longer. The ultimate failure 

 of the Midland Union was, in all probability, largely due to the want of 

 any common feeling among its members of being ' Midlanders.' But 

 Cumberland and Westmorland are two counties which have a strona 

 affinity for each other, and have been much associated together in many 

 ways. Possibly the ultimate failure of their Association may have been 

 mainly the result of the absence of any town in those counties so pre-emi- 

 nent in size and importance as to be able to form a recognised standard 

 and central Society. 



Two Societies, which once belonged to the Midland Union, express a 

 preference for Unions like the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. The great 

 advantage possessed by that federation lies, however, in the fact that all 

 its members, though they may live as far apart as any members of the 

 Midland Union once did, have the common feeling of being Yorkshire- 

 men. But Warwickshire, for example, may feel no special affinity for 

 Nottinghamshire, or the county of Leicester for that of Staflfbrd. 



In short, while no one can doubt the great desirability on all grounds 

 of increased federation among the various local Societies, it is obvious that 

 success must depend, not on the abstract merits of any given scheme, but 

 on its suitability to the local conditions in which it is expected to work. 



Some disappointment may be felt at the slightness of the interest 

 manifested in federation. But it may be hoped that many Societies which 

 are more or less averse to any close federation with neighbouring Associa- 

 tions have, nevertheless, had their thoughts profitably directed towards 



