session 1908-1909. 
xxix 
5. “ Report on the Conference of Delegates to 
the British Association at Dublin in 1908.” By John 
Hopkinson, F.L.S., F.Gf.S. F.Z.S., etc. 
The Conference met on the 3rd and 8th of September, the 
Chairman, Prof. H. A. Miers, F.R.S., presiding at the first 
meeting, and the Vice-Chairman, Prof. Gfrenville Cole, at the 
second. The Corresponding Societies Committee was represented, 
amongst others, by the following members of our Society:— 
Dr. H. R. Mill, Mr. W. Whitaker, F.R.S., and your Delegate 
who contributes this report. 
First Meeting. 
The Report of the Committee first dealt with the resolution 
with regard to Photographic Surveys passed at the previous 
Conference, which it was stated had been referred by the Council 
of the Association to the Corresponding Societies Committee. 
In order to ascertain what photo-survey work had been done 
by the Corresponding Societies, this Committee has sent to them 
a schedule of questions to which thirty-eight Societies replied, 
the information given showing that very little systematic photo¬ 
survey work had been done by them directly, but that they 
had stimulated others and started other organizations by which 
such work had been done. As to publishing instructions the 
Committee recommended inquiries being addressed to the 
Rational Photographic Record Society. And with regard to 
photo-records at the place of meeting of the Association, the 
Council, on the recommendation of the Committee, had resolved 
to request the Local Executive Committee for each place of 
meeting to obtain a collection of photographs of the district. 
This year the Dublin Naturalists’ Field Club had undertaken to 
form such a collection. 
Two Societies were recommended for addition to the list of 
Affiliated and two to that of Associated Societies. 
The Chairman delivered an Address on the educational position 
occupied by the Local Scientific Societies. 
After showing that as scientific literature has become more 
highly organized it has fallen more into the hands of specialists, 
and that the case is the same with the greater scientific societies, 
so that to gain information is difficult in the present day for 
anyone without special knowledge of the subjects discussed 
in the one or the other, Prof. Miers said : “ Cannot the local 
societies, in addition to their ordinary work, make a special 
effort to satisfy the educational needs of the many intelligent 
people who have not been trained in, or have not had access 
to, laboratories, museums, and scientific libraries, or whose 
opportunities have not brought them into contact with field¬ 
work and the interests and occupations of naturalists, and 
who desire to know more of science, and perhaps to become 
themselves workers ? ” And he suggested that “ the way to 
