238 
president’s address. 
being on the ground from early in May to the end of July is 
quite sufficient.” And all this has been done at a cost of not 
more than £7 for each season. There is no doubt that the 1st of 
August is too early for the termination of the close time for these 
birds, as many of them have hardly left the nest on that date, and 
an extension to the 15tli August would be attended with great 
advantage. 
There is one subject which ought to be brought to your attention, 
that is, the subject of Federation, or District Union of Natural 
History Societies. It is specially advocated by the Corresponding 
Societies Committee of the British Association. The Honorary 
Secretary of the Essex Field Club has also approached us on the 
subject, and in his letter states as follows : — There are several 
degrees of Federation. (1) For the purpose of holding a joint 
Annual Meeting for reading papers, etc., and promoting unity or 
work. (2) For joint publication. (3) For the purpose of 
united action with regard to some piece of work, e.g., Zoological 
Stations, inland or marine, etc. The subject has come before our 
Committee, but no actual steps have yet been taken. We are 
asked by the British Association to favour them with our views 
as to the proposal. There are several Naturalists’ Unions already in 
existence (notably, the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union), all doing 
good work. The formation of an East Anglian Naturalists’ Union 
would, evidently, be a step in the direction of the Organization 
of Scientific Besearch, and might increase the usefulness and 
efficiency of our own Society. 
[The remainder of the President’s Address was devoted to 
general observations made in the course of his very extended 
travels in all parts of the world, which included a visit to the 
Tunny fishery in the Bay of Paglia, a visit to Herr Giitke in 
Heligoland, the Fin- whale fishery at Yadso, in Finmark, shooting 
in the Himalayas, and interesting notes of occurrences in India 
and Ceylon, where in the latter island he came into contact with 
wild elephants. A visit to the Ilamurana river, in New Zealand, 
and an account of the small eyeless fish, which are found in 
its waters, where this remarkable stream bursts suddenly with 
