AND LOCAL SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION. 
45 
APPENDIX I. 
Abridged Beport of the Proceedings at the first five Con¬ 
ferences of Delegates from Scientific Societies. 
First Conference , Swansea , 31 st August, 1880. 
John Hopkinson, E.L.S., F.Gr.S., in the Chair. 
An explanation of the object of convening the Conference was 
given by the Chairman, after which various suggestions were 
made, principally with the view of securing a better representation 
of scientific societies at the meetings of the British Association, 
and a more intimate relationship between provincial societies, and 
the following resolutions were passed:— 
1. “That this Conference recommends that at future meetings of 
the British Association the delegates from the various scientific 
societies should meet, with the view of promoting the best interests 
of the Association and of the several societies represented/’ 
2. “That Mr. John Hopkinson and Mr. H. George Pordham he 
a Committee to carry out the views expressed at this Conference, 
and to report to the Conference of Delegates to be held at York in 
1881 in accordance with the foregoing resolution.” 
Second Conference, York, 6th September , 1881. 
W. Whitaker, B.A., E.G.S., in the Chair. 
The Beport of the Committee stated that there had been “issued 
to all the scientific societies in the United Kingdom entitled to send 
delegates to the British Association, a report of the Conference at 
Swansea, and a circular-letter inviting these societies to send 
delegates to the York meeting; ” and also that in order to place 
the Conferences on a firm basis the Committee had proposed the 
following resolution which would be brought before the Committee 
of Becommendations that day : — 11 That a Committee be appointed, 
consisting of Sir Walter Elliot, E.B.S., Mr. H. George Eordham, 
Mr. John Hopkinson, Mr. G. J. Symons, E.B.S., and Mr. W. 
Whitaker, B.A., to arrange for a Conference of Delegates from 
scientific societies to he held at the annual meetings of the British 
Association, with a view to promote the interests of the societies 
represented by inducing them to undertake definite systematic work 
on an uniform plan.” * 
The Beport having been adopted, a discussion ensued in the 
course of which Mr. Hopkinson gave an account of the operations 
of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society, referring especially 
to the large number of members who were undertaking the regis¬ 
tration of the rainfall; the recording of periodical natural pheno¬ 
mena, such as the time of flowering of plants, the appearance of 
insects, and the arrival and departure of migratory birds ; and also 
the preparation of lists of the fauna and flora of the county. He 
felt sure that if the Secretaries of other Natural-History Societies 
* This resolution did not then pass the Committee of Recommendations, hut 
its principle was eventually accepted by the appointment of a Committee having 
a similar object and constitution—the Corresponding Societies’ Committee. 
