Committee of Suggestions for Research. 



139 



probably be beyond the skill of the majority of observers, but 

 the difficulty could be met by the Committee of Sug-g-estions if 

 the following- collections and observations were made. 



[h) Specimens of peat. In any cutting- various layers of peat 

 (bog--moss peat, heather peat, cotton grass peat, etc.) would 

 probably be exposed. Specimens of each layer recognised, with 

 a sod of the surface vegetation, and a piece of the moor pan or 

 other deposit beneath the peat, could be collected by anyone, 

 and forwarded to the committee. For the present specimens 

 might be sent to Messrs. P. F. Kendall or W. G. Smith at the 

 Yorkshire College. The committee would then endeavour to 

 find some individual or individuals to examine specimens and 

 prepare reports. 



{c) Collection of named mature seeds or fruits of British 

 plants. This is necessary for the identification of any seeds 

 found in the peat (or other recent deposits). Mr. Clement Reid, 

 while doing work of this kind, finds that complete collections 

 do not exist. Certainly there is no full collection belonging to 

 the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. The Agricultural Depart- 

 ment of the Yorkshire College have at the Manor Farm, 

 Garforth, a small collection which for the present might be used 

 as a nucleus. If any member of the Yorkshire Naturalists' 

 Union who may have a collection of seeds, or who will make 

 this collection, could forward duplicates to Dr. W. G. Smith at 

 the Yorkshire College, this collection could be increased and 

 would be accessible to members of the Union. If the occasion 

 arises that the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union (or its societies) 

 desires a collection of its own, arrangements could be made to 

 provide this from the above collection. 



[d) Timbers found in peat, with records where found. 

 Various collections of these already exist, but a report including 

 details of these and any new finds is required. 



[e) Animal remains found in peat or other recent deposits, 

 with records where found. Arrangements could be made to 

 ensure the identification and preservation of these. This applies 

 not only to Vertebrate remains, but also to several groups of 

 Invertebrates. For example, there are several good collections 

 of wings and other parts of Coleoptera which have been found 

 in peat in Britain, and are as yet only imperfectly identified ; 

 this branch therefore off'ers an opening for original work. 



(/) The geological members could obtain, or assist in obtain- 

 ing, information regarding the deposits underlying the peat, 

 and in other ways clear up questions on the origin of peat. 



1904 May t. 



