112 NATURALISTS 5 MELD CLUBS ; 



Society of Liverpool has of late exerted itself successfully in 

 this way. By its direction a pamphlet of about fifty pages was 

 printed, and extensively distributed amongst the captains of 

 vessels sailing from Liverpool. The pamphlet contains directions 

 for the capture and preservation of all such organisms as are 

 likely to fall in the way of seafaring men, and though I do not 

 know minutely what the results of this step have been, I have 

 been informed in general terms that the naturalists and the mu- 

 seum of Liverpool have reaped considerable benefit from it. It 

 would certainly appear to be worth while to adopt a similar 

 course of proceeding here. Perhaps a pamphlet of smaller size 

 than that just noticed might be found sufficient, and would of 

 course be proportionally less expensive. And possibly the Natural 

 History Society, as being the owners of the museum, might incur 

 this expense with more propriety than the Field Club. In any 

 case the subject deserves consideration, and I hope may ere long- 

 receive it. 



Our Club has, I think, done well in according to meteorology 

 a considerable share of attention, and in making the observations 

 recorded by its members and others the subject of an annual 

 report, which year by year increases in comprehensiveness and 

 value. These records of carefully made observations in a district 

 so diversified in its physical aspects as ours, must in the course 

 of time form an invaluable collection of data, and it is much to 

 be desired that every one in the two counties who keeps such 

 memoranda should communicate them to the Club. If any of the 

 more remote districts are yet quite unrepresented in our tables. 

 Besides the practical usefulness of meteorological science, it has 

 great interest for naturalists in the influence exerted by atmos- 

 pheric conditions in the distribution of plants and animals. And 

 in relation to this part of the subject it may be noted that an 

 exceedingly instructive and little worked field of research is here 

 open to any one who, having sufficient leisure, will take the 

 trouble to become sufficiently well acquainted with our local 

 flora. I refer to the determination of the heights attained by 

 different species on our hills : this, with the aid of a good pocket 

 barometer — now easily attainable — is very easily ascertained, 



