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BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
over their early difficulties, so that they may not be disheartened 
at their first outset and give up the pursuit for want of sympathy. 
As to the value of the past work of the Society, I have no doubt; 
but we must remember that what has been done is as nothing 
compared with what remains to be accomplished. 
We are fortunate in having many original workers in botany, 
zoology, and geology, and the microscope has also done good work 
in the hands of some of our most practised members among the 
fauna and flora of our ponds and ditches ; but pond life is a very 
wide subject, embracing as it does such a multitude of organisms 
belonging both to the Animal and Vegetable Kingdoms which can 
only be attacked successfully in detail. 
It has been said that if you want to know anything you must 
go to a specialist, and I think it would result in more satisfactory 
work if members would take up some special group and work it 
thoroughly out. It is always a great help to know what others 
have done in the same department of study, and the splendid 
monographs which have been published from time to time are of 
inestimable value in bringing together all that is known with 
respect to the various subjects of which they treat. 
In furthering this object, the Kay and Palseontographical 
Societies have long done good service in giving to the world many 
valuable volumes, which, but for their aid, would never have been 
published. On this account alone they should have the support 
of all naturalists who can afford to subscribe to their funds. 
Ten years have passed away since we had our last Marine 
Excursion to Oban. These excursions were of pretty regular 
occurrence a few years ago, and I fear that one of the reasons why 
they have been relinquished of late is that it is difficult to find 
anyone who is able to give the time, or who is willing to undertake 
the amount of work, which the necessary arrangements for these 
excursions entail. We have always felt the loss of our valued 
friend, the late Mr. John Morley, who so cheerfully gave his time 
and spared no trouble to make these excursions as perfect as 
possible, and who was always so ready to sacrifice his own comfort 
for the convenience of others. 
July, 1893. 
