6 
YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION. 
Selby, as well as the rise of a new and more scientific race of 
naturalists, broug^ht about a reconsideration of the whole position 
of affairs. The more active thinkers of the Society formulated 
a scheme of reform, which was carried into effect at the end of 
1876. 
This re-organisation of 1876 took cognisance of several 
important points. The area of operation of the federation was 
to be extended to the whole county, and the name was accord- 
ingly changed and shortened to that with which we are all so 
familiar, and it became the ** Yorkshire Naturalists* Union " at 
Pontefract, on the 2nd of April, 1877. 
The sectional system was introduced with the view of 
ensuring a more complete and scientific examination of the 
material collected, and the saving of time at the general meeting 
by the sections reporting only on the broad results and the more 
important discoveries of the day. 
The excursions were to be made more definite and precise 
in their scope, the area investigated being restricted and properly 
defined, and a programme or circular printed for each. At the 
beginning there was the danger of the pic-nic and sight-seeing 
element being introduced, but — and it was the result of a very 
obvious object lesson — the members at the opening excursion of 
1877 proved themselves wiser than their leaders, and promptly 
and emphatically laid it down that there were to be no sight- 
seeing arrangements made, no field-lecturing, and, in short, 
nothing to interfere with active personal investigation. 
On these lines the excursions have ever since been con- 
ducted, and have, on the whole, been remarkably successful. 
Our Union has been able to show that it is perfectly practic- 
able for real scientific investigation to be carried out on field 
excursions. 
The failures in this direction complained of by Societies in 
other parts of England are the usual result of neglect of the 
precautions I have stated. 
The establishment of sections and sectional meetings to 
precede the general one has resulted in the saving of time at the 
latter, and of greater scientific accuracy in recording. 
The character of the Annual Meeting also received special 
attention. It was felt that it should include more than mere 
business, and should be, as far as possible, an occasion for a 
social gathering of the members. 
For this reason a different town is selected each year, always 
by invitation, the inviting Society organising a reception or 
conversazione. 
The status of the Presidency of the Union arose in this 
connection, and it was from the outset deemed desirable that a 
combination of scientific eminence with Yorkshire connection 
should be aimed at, that our President should be an acknow- 
ledged leader in his subject, capable of delivering an address to 
