!g 2 [Eroc. B.N.F.C., 



willing to follow up an address with advice, guidance, and 

 criticism. Professor Miers advocated that the local societies 

 should initiate a science extension movement. The second paper 

 was by Mrs. Hobson on the establishing of " Sanctuaries for our 

 Local Flora and Fauna" This can best be done by owners of 

 private demesnes, and it is suggested that field clubs and kindred 

 societies should first consider the most likely spots — say one in 

 each county — and then send a deputation to the owners asking 

 them to fence them in and guard against the ravages of intruders. 

 The paper did not advocate the shutting out of " the man in the 

 street " and admitting solely the man who fondly imagines himself 

 a scientist because he is making a collection of eggs, birds, plants, 

 etc. The usual excuse for such is "for identification." It 

 is quite possible to follow most pursuits without possessing 

 specimens. For instance, one can study the pyramids, the Pacific 

 tides, and the heavenly bodies ; one might study the Maoris or 

 certain tribes in South Africa without requiring to have their 

 mummies in the home! The paper then dealt with the scientific(?) 

 people who are scouring the country for every rare bird, plant, 

 egg, etc., at the same time denouncing the professional bird-catcher 

 and the woman with the wings of wild and often rare birds in her 

 hat. One class cannot afford to throw stones at the other. The 

 people who cry out the most only want the rarer thing — and get it. 

 Museums are the only places justified in having collections of 

 once-living things. In the matter of birds it is bird-watching that 

 is of consequence. What scientific societies should be strenuous 

 about is not the collecting of specimens, but of knowledge, and 

 insisting that it is the study of the life-history of the living 

 organism in the field, and not the gathering together of dead 

 matter, that is of use. At the second Conference, Professor 

 G. H. Carpenter, H.Sc, dealt with '• Detailed Natural History 

 Surveys for Restricted Areas : an Important Work for Local 

 Societies." This was followed by a paper on "The Advisability of 

 Restocking Haunts whence Fauna and Flora have disappeared,' 



