298 
Xotes and Comments. 
annual reports of the Recorders of the Hertfordshire Natural 
History Society is that of the Recorder of Birds, not only 
of our present Recorder, but each one for the last thirty-five 
years has been so. In botany an effort should be made to 
compile a flora of the county, phanerogamic and cryptogamic, 
if there is not one of somewhat recent compilation already in 
existence, and if there be such a flora the duty of the Recorder 
would be to keep it up to date by his own observations and those 
of his correspondents.’ 
WORKERS AND DRONES. 
‘ In but few localities, however, can such a society entirely 
rely upon active workers ; there must be drones in the hive to 
supply the necessary funds by their subscriptions, and to add 
to the numbers attending meetings, and for them it will be 
necessary to provide popular lectures, which are now almost 
invariably illustrated by lantern-slides. In selecting such 
lectures regard should be had, so far as possible, to make them, 
while entertaining, conducive to serious study, so that there 
may be from time to time drafted from the army of drones, 
reciuits to swell the less numerous company of workers. The 
field meetings should be designed to investigate some special 
subject. for instance, the geology, botany, or some branch of 
the zoology of a district, under competent guidance, and while 
they should never be allowed to degenerate into picnics or mere 
pleasure parties, there is no reason why an occasional invitation 
of hospitality should be refused. In a fairly large society the 
workers may be sufficiently numerous to form sections, each 
with its Recorder or Secretary, but it is only in very large 
ones that the sections should hold meetings to which the 
members generally are not admitted.’ 
PUBLICATIONS : 
The Publications of such societies, I will consider 
entirely from the point of view of a bibliographer. The ques- 
tion is, therefore : How can the publications be rendered 
most useful and most easily referred to, and quoted by in- 
quirers on the subjects of which they treat ? The Editors of 
many, if not of most of the Local Natural History Societies 
of the British Isles, appear to strive to make this most diffi- 
cult. Therefore I will briefly, and as I have not the time at 
my disposal to give my reasons in detail, it may appear dog- 
matically, lay down certain rules which I think should be 
strictly adhered to.’ 
HOW PRODUCED. 
However much or however little is printed in a year, a 
volume with consecutive pagination, or it may be with two 
series of pages, one with Arabic numerals for the transactions 
Naturalist 
