BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
135 
for the solution of r those problems of biology or geology which are 
still in a state of uncertainty. 
Once a love for Natural History is established, everything is 
seen with different eyes, every object is invested with a greater 
interest, and all matters relating to its structure and life-history 
are carefully noted, and the yarious faculties which this occupation 
brings into play are thereby sharpened and educated to a degree 
which will be of the greatest service in all future researches into 
that vast field of enquiry which is continually opening up before 
the student of Nature. With the object of bringing into associa¬ 
tion the scattered Societies of the neighbouring counties, the 
Midland Union of Natural History Societies was formed in 1878 ; 
but the result, owing to various causes, has not been quite as 
successful as was originally expected. The Annual Meeting, by 
invitation of the local Societies, will be held this year in Birming¬ 
ham, and it will devolve upon these Societies to make arrangements 
for entertaining the visitors. As it is anticipated that this meeting 
may be the turning point in the prosperity of the Union, every 
effort should be made to render it as successful as possible. The 
success or otherwise, of course, very much depends on the manner 
in which the several Societies work together, and the good under¬ 
standing existing between them. It is also very important that 
the number of the Societies composing the Union should be 
increased, and, I believe, efforts are being made to effect this 
desirable object. 
Here, perhaps, it would not be out of place to allude to our 
journal, the “ Midland Naturalist,” and to impress upon all the 
great importance of supporting it, both by increasing its circulation 
and providing suitable matter for its pages. It would be a great 
calamity if, through want of support, it should be found impossible 
to continue its publication. As far as our Society is concerned, 
every member is provided with a copy, and if the other Societies 
in the Union could make a similar arrangement, instead of leaving 
it to individual efforts, its success would be assured. Although 
some of the Societies prefer to publish their own transactions, 
there are no doubt many papers of general interest which would 
June, 1893. 
