270 



[Proc. B.N.F.C., 



educational institutions has provided for the needs of most 

 persons who wish to study science, either to gain knowledge or 

 prepare for a career. Other people seek entertainment, rather 

 than mental effort, in their leisure hours, and they require subjects 

 of topical interest, or of social and political importance, to attract 

 them to lectures." 



Of the Recommendations of the Committee the following is 

 a brief summary: — "That an annual list of public lecturers on 

 science subjects be prepared and published, with titles of their 

 lectures. No fees should be mentioned in the list, but addresses 

 should be given so that committees organising lectures may make 

 their own arrangements with lecturers. Local scientific societies, 

 museums, and institutions of higher education should be invited 

 to send the names of members of their bodies prepared to deliver 

 lectures to similar bodies elsewhere without fee other than 

 travelling expenses, and the names of such voluntary lecturers 

 should be indicated in the list by a distinguishing mark." They 

 further recommend the increased use of the bioscope, illustrating 

 natural objects, scenes and phenomena. 



The President of the Conference, Professor G. A Lebour, 

 gave an address upon "Co-operation," an address directed more 

 particularly to Naturalists' Field Clubs. After describing the 

 features of the early history of Field Clubs, their systematic and 

 useful work on the local fauna and flora, the President referred to 

 the turning point of their history some 40 or 50 years ago, 

 coincident with the great increase in the number of subjects taught 

 to the masses of the people, and with the establishment of College 

 after College, and University after University in every part of the 

 country. Another cause of decline Prof. Lebour attributed to the 

 fact that in the course of years all the flowers, beetles, butterflies, 

 birds and beasts of a limited tract of country have practically 

 been gathered. Hence the purposes which actuated the eager 

 searchers of the past are much diminished in force. A still 

 further unfavourable factor has been the breakdown in insularity, 



