192 
MEETING OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 
treasurer, and Mr. T. H. Waller, the general secretary, had been asked 
to again undertake the duties of that office, he having expressed a 
wish to resign. 
Mr. W. Phillips proposed that the proceedings of the Council 
Meeting be approved and adopted by the General Meeting. Mr. J. 
Calcott seconded the resolution and it was carried. 
Mr. It. W. Ralph moved a vote of thanks to the president and 
officers for their services during the past year. Mr. Houghton seconded 
it, and it was carried. 
Mr. E. de Hamel proposed on his own behalf, and that of the other 
visitors, their hearty thanks for the excellence of the arrangements 
made by the local officers for that meeting. He well knew what 
trouble had to be taken to get up a two days’ entertainment such as 
that, and he could fully appreciate all that had been done. 
Mr. Wheeler seconded the resolution and it was carried. 
Mr. H. Wilson proposed a vote of thanks to the president for his 
valuable services. This was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 
The following is the 
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 
Societies in the Union. 
During the past year two Societies have withdrawn from the 
Union, viz., the Bedfordshire Natural History and Field Club and the 
Nottingham Naturalists’ Society. The list of component Societies 
will therefore now stand as follows : — 
Birmingham Microscopists’ and Naturalists’ Union. 
Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society. 
Birmingham Philosophical Society. 
Birmingham and Midland Institute Scientific Society. 
Birmingham School Natural History Society. 
Caradoc Field Club. 
Dudley and Midland Geological and Scientific Society and Field 
Club. 
Evesham Field Naturalists’ Club. 
Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society. 
Northamptonshire Natural History Society. 
Nottingham Working Men’s Naturalists’ Society. 
Oswestry and Welshpool Naturalists’ Field Club. 
Peterborough Natural History and Scientific Society. 
Rugby School Natural History Society. 
Severn Valley Naturalists’Field Club. 
Tamworth Natural History, Geological, and Antiquarian Society. 
The Council views with great concern the continued withdrawal of 
Societies from the Union, and feels that the apparent failure of the 
Union to meet the expectations of so many of the original constituent 
Societies demands very careful attention from the members, in order 
to determine the causes and to devise means for more efficient mutual 
help and intercourse. At present the sole function of the Union 
appears to be that it is the excuse for a pleasant meeting and pic-nic, 
and with these — as the only result — the expenditure of time and 
money involved appears decidedly out of due proportion. The Council 
believes that the time has come when the Societies still remaining in 
