MIDLAND UNION OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 175 
local societies desire to have their own transactions, and are more 
willing to support them, for they thus further the existing combined 
desire to make their society more successful; aud, moreover, such 
publications do add to the success of scientific societies. It is feared 
that there is not to such a large extent a combined desire to keep up 
the “ Midland Naturalist,” since it is the journal of no particular 
society, and, as a rule, the officials and members of the local 
societies feel they have no direct interest in it, and are not 
responsible for its welfare. Many members, also, would send 
a paper to the local society’s transactions, but not to the journal, 
as it may come before more critical readers. However, the more 
widely extended publication in the journal is doubtless of much 
greater advantage to the scientific world. The printers of the 
“ Midland Naturalist ” have intimated that they will cease printing 
the publication at the end of the year, unless an appreciable increase 
in the number of subscribers is at once secured : failing this being 
done, the Union, if continued, will have to make fresh arrange¬ 
ments, including securing the copyright of the “ Midland Naturalist,” 
which is vested in the printers, who have hitherto borne all risks 
and expenditure. 
(2.) Is there any prospect of members attending the annual 
meeting in larger numbers, and so preventing the often serious drain 
on the finances of the inviting society ? The expense and small 
attendance have been for some years a source of much disappoint¬ 
ment to the inviting society and the Union. 
(3.) Is there any prospect of obtaining suitable honorary 
secretaries? • The Union should be a most useful institution. To 
quote from the opening address in the first number of the “ Midland 
Naturalist —“ The objects of the Union may be broadly stated to 
be to extend the usefulness of local societies by affording facilities 
for intercommunication through an authorised and regularly pub¬ 
lished magazine, which shall record the more important work done 
by them; announce their, forthcoming meetings ; and assist in the 
interchange of notes and specimens ; and by providing opportunities 
for personal intercourse among the members at meetings to be held 
from time to time in various places of interest, and, in other ways, 
August, 1898. 
