XXXi 



Siaien Island, which have now been'pubHshed continuously over a 

 period of about twenty-five years, have been cited and quoted in other 

 works all over the world, and are on file in many of the large public 

 libraries. 



4. Meetin(;s and Lectures. Meeting^s provide opportunity^, for 

 the interchang-e of ideas among: the members and their immediate friends, 

 for the discussion of hypotheses and theories, and for the presentation 

 of new facts and discoveries for record in the archives or in publica- 

 tions. Lectures directly reach the public in general and distribute 

 information in an attractive manner, performing an important educa- 

 tional function for the community. 



Some of these societies have existed for many years and their influ- 

 ence has been great, but most of them had small beginnings; some have 

 obtained recognition and partial support from cities and towns, while 

 the amount of money privately contributed for their work, in the fornj 

 of membership dues, gifts and bequests, is collectively very large. 



Local scientific societies are able to carry out comprehensive studies 

 of natural phenomena over limited areas, thus accumulating valuable 

 series of facts and observations which societies of broader scope fin^l 

 impossible. Accurate and complete information concerning the natur- 

 al objects and features of small geographical areas is very important to 

 local communities and often has wider interest or general scientific 

 significance, and the records of natural phenomena that ultimately 

 become obliterated by the building up of towns and villages are ver\ 

 desirable to preserve by descriptions, photographs, drawings or speci- 

 mens. Our association has always given close attention to this work, 

 and the natural history of Staten Island is perhaps as thoroughly and 

 accurately known as that of any other equal area in the United States, 

 although much yet remains to be done. 



The existence of a local society in a community provides the pos- 

 sibility of obtaining data relative to natural objects by reason of 

 some of its members being always available for observing facts that 

 might otherwise be lost to science. In our experience there have been 

 repeated instances of such incidents, one very recent one having already 

 thrown a flood of light on certain features of the character of the 

 vegetation which formed the forests about New York City during the 

 Cretaceous period in geologic time. 



The work of such societies supplies the very best training for young 

 people in natural science, their interest being aroused and maintained 

 as in no other way. Nature study is coming to be more and more 

 recognized as an important factor in public education and has already 



