Nov., 1891. MIDLAND UNION OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 
243 
district, and especially of the places to be visited, but a 
better fate is in store for you. Professor Lap worth has kindly 
consented to address us this evening on this subject, chiefly as to 
Dudley geology as exemplified in the underground and open 
caverns ; but also briefly as to their bearing on geological 
results up to the present date ; and in his hands I can promise 
you a masterly exposition. It will be enough for me to 
congratulate the members of the Union on the practical use 
of your knowledge that union is strength ; to point out how 
much science is advanced by the quiet workers in various 
societies gathered in union to-day ; to repeat that the world 
still makes liberal terms with the discoverers of what may 
turn out practically useful to it; but (to quote Professor 
Tyndall) to insist that the guiding spirit must be the love of 
truth for its own sake, and not the greed of gain. Our local 
society has suffered in the past, as no doubt have some of 
yours, by losing an important section, viz.,its mining engineers, 
who, finding that the black diamonds were all-engrossing, 
formed an independent society and now belong to the 
Federated Institute of Mining Engineers, representatives of 
which we have just lately had the pleasure of entertaining. 
Fortunately, though very energetic, they have not had time 
to run away with all the interesting rocks of the neighbour¬ 
hood ; so I propose that we make haste and carry out the 
programme formulated for us by our excellent organising secre¬ 
tary, Mr. Wickham King, assuring you that although we invite 
criticism, and have an eye to picking your brains, yet we will 
do our best, weather permitting, to make your visit to pre¬ 
historic Dudley as agreeable and interesting as may be in 
our power. 
The following report of the Council was adopted :— 
“ The Council have much pleasure in presenting their 
fourteenth Annual Beport, and in placing on record that the 
Midland Union of Natural History Societies maintains a 
steady and, they believe, a useful existence. It includes, 
as last year, fifteen Societies, and, whilst the Council 
express regret that a special circular issued to other Societies 
not within the Union has not met with the successful response 
that they had hoped would result from it, yet they are glad to 
say that the list of Societies included in the Union remains 
intact, and that the combined number of members within the 
Union and receiving the ‘ Midland Naturalist 1 remains quite 
satisfactory. 
“ They greatly regret that the Darwin Medal this year, 
as last year, remains unappropriated, and for the reason that 
